Grace Li

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Character

Grace Li aka Liu Nuo
Seasoned Female Martial Artist

Background
When Nuo was young, her family immigrated to California to escape persecution in China. Initially, her father and brothers worked on the Central Pacific railway, but after the Great Quake of '68 the family moved east to Denver where they opened a supply store. Because of the rough nature of the American West, Nuo's father, a martial arts master, taught all his children the art of fighting so they could defend themselves, not only his sons.

When she was in her late teens, Nuo was accused of a crime she didn’t commit. Denver authorities assumed she was guilty since she is Chinese, so she grabbed her meager belongings and got on the first train out of town to escape the accusation and to protect her family.

As the train headed north, some bandits attempted to rob it and the passengers aboard. Nuo and another passenger thwarted the bandits. The Denver Pacific Railroad was so impressed by the pair they were hired on as company troubleshooters. Now calling herself Grace Li, the martial artist did this for a few years before setting off on her own to explore the American West. She is loosely affiliated with some members of the Explorer Society but is not an official member of the organization.

Description
Grace is a very fit young Chinese woman in her early twenties. She’s a little on the short side, only 5’ 3” tall, but she moves with a sure-footed grace and exhibits quiet confidence.

Attributes

Agility d8; Smarts d6; Spirit d6; Strength d6; Vigor d6

Pace 6; Parry 6 (7); Toughness 5

Skills

Athletics d8; Common Knowledge d4; Fighting d8; Focus d6; Healing d4; Language: Chinese d8 (native); Language: English d6; Notice d6; Persuasion d4; Riding d4; Stealth d6; Survival d4

Hindrances

Code of Honor: Honor is very important to her. She keeps her word and behaves honorably.

Outsider (minor, Chinese): -2 to Persuasion rolls made to influence those who are prejudiced against Chinese

Shamed (minor): Grace once had to break her word to save herself and is haunted by this.

Edges

Ambidextrous: Ignore the -2 penalty when making Trait rolls with off-hand.

Arcane Background (Chi Master): Arcane Skill: Focus (Spirit), 15 Power Points

Martial Artist: Unarmed Fighting +1, Fists and feet count as Natural Weapons, add d4 damage to unarmed Fighting attacks

Superior Kung Fu (Wing Chun): As a free action at the start of her turn, she can assume the Wing Chun style, giving her +1 Parry and subtracting 2 from any melee damage she takes.

Two-Fisted: If she makes a Fighting attack with one action and another from her other hand with additional action, her second attack doesn’t inflict a Multi-Action penalty.

Weapons: Unarmed (Range: Melee, Damage: Str +d4)
Languages: Chinese d8 (native), English d6
Current Wealth: $222.15

Special Abilities

• Dance of the Clever Fox (Warrior’s Gift): PP 4, Duration 5; With a successful Focus roll, Grace gains the benefits of a single Combat Edge she chooses (Seasoned rank or less). On a raise she gains the improved version if there is one, even if it is higher rank.
• Seize the Pearl of Death (Deflection): PP 3, Duration 5; With a standard success, attackers must subtract 2 from any Fighting, Shooting, or other attack rolls directed at the user. A raise increases the penalty to -4. This also acts as Armor against area effect weapons. If the attack misses, the martial artist may make an immediate Agility roll at -6 for bullets or -4 for thrown weapons. If successful, she hurls the projectile back at the original target for Str+d6 damage.
• Stones Fly From the Hand (Bolt): PP 1-9, Range Smarts x2; Hurls pebbles or other small projectiles at a target. The Focus skill roll is used as the attack roll, and the base damage is 2d6.

* Additional Bolts: She may cast up to 3 bolts by spending a like amount of Power Points. This must be decided before the power is cast. The bolts may be spread among targets as she chooses. Firing the additional bolts does not incur any attack penalties.

* Additional Damage: She may also increase the damage to 3d6 for +2 Power Point cost per bolt. This may be combined with the additional bolts, so firing 3 bolts of 3d6 damage costs 9 Power Points.

Advances
Novice Advances
Edge: Two-Fisted
Edge: Superior Kung Fu (Wing Chun)
Raise Attribute: Smarts d6
Seasoned Advances
Raise Skills: Notice d6, Language: English d6

Inventory
$11 Clothing, common ($1 blouse, $2 trousers, $8 riding boots)
$7 Clothing, nice ($3 blouse, $2 skirt, $2 shoes)
$7 Clothing, Chinese ($3 blouse, $2 trousers, $2 shoes)
$10 Buckskin fringe jacket
$5 Black hide ladies Stetson hat
$2 Backpack
$4 Bedroll
$1 Blanket
$2 Canteen x2
$0.25 File
$1 Hatchet
$2.50 Lantern
$0.10 Lantern oil
$3 Trail rations x6
$2 Mess kit
$0.50 Box of 100 Matches
$2.50 Watch, standard
$30 Small telescope
$1 Loose shotgun shot
$1 First Aid Kit
$150 Chestnut mare (named Copper)
$25 Saddle
$10 Saddlebags x2
Horse treats (apples, carrots, sugercubes, whatever is available)

Grace's worst fear is being paralyzed. So much of her identity and agency is tied to her martial arts, which is a very physical thing. So not just being restrained, which can be struggled against, but being trapped in her own body unable to move would be terrifying to her.