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[LP CYOA] 傳
- Thread starter treave
- Start date
Kashmir Slippers
Magister
A
Nevill
Arcane
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- 11,211
Well, if Jing thought that choosing any of the paths would result in Yao's untimely death, he probably wouldn't even consider it. However, it is true that what Jing thinks and how things really are are two different things.
The party that goes to the court without Jing is not very combat-oriented. There are only Yifang and Lingshu to speak of, and the latter is undesided about what she wants to do. She does look like a person who values personal loyalties and sympathies over her duty, especially in such murky circumstances, but the matter is complicated enough that she could swing both ways.
It is highly unlikely that this group alone would be able to bail Yao out if things go wrong. If we go with them, we can ensure that at least Yao escapes.
However, we probably would not be able to achieve a favorable outcome for the trial itself, or 'win' it, if you want, nor would we be able to acquire more information about Madam Nie's involvement. How important it might be in the light of the Fire Cult's participation in the beggar civil war and us falling behind in the investigation of the current plots, is up to you to decide.
The fact remains that Madam Nie knows much more about us than we do about her, has a confident lead as far as the hunt for the manuals is concerned, and now suspects that we also have one. Her allies, zhangs, still remain untouchable, and even plan to get in the Emperor's good graces again (ha-ha, more likely, they tested the waters on how big and scary a force they could muster, and had a huge success with wiping out the Bandit Kingdom the Tang Army couldn't touch for years). This might concern the well-being of our whole group, not just Yao.
The Black Dragon Society is involved in many or all of these shady dealings. They are hosting the trial at the behest of Mao Sanjiao. They are supplying Madam Nie with convicts and slaves (and we know at least some of these slaves are Han people). They are sheltering Chief You and his clique. They are holding hostages for the zhang clan and use them to force their relatives to support Huashan agenda.
A strike against the BDS might be decisive for our 'victory' here, provided we handle the matter correctly. Alternatively, as I think we will be discovered sooner or later, there might be an option to haggle with them, leaving them time to erase the evidence and escape in exchange for them withdrawing their support from Nie and Mao. Finally, there is a matter of them participating in the manual hunt, and we know where to look for them (I wonder if Madam Nie didn't tip them off about us having WQS as well). It can be approached from many angles.
Of course, if we fail here, then it will all fall apart.
The operation is non-trivial, and I am afraid, a group without us would only be able to achieve a partial success here - freeing the parents and finding some leads, for example, but failing to find or free the kids and ensure the family's cooperation. Or they themselves might get in trouble. It is a delicate choice, but I feel that if done right, it has the most potential.
P.S. I also wonder if Pang Xiaohu have scattered to the winds, or if he stayed behind to pay a little debt.
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Based on treave's "There is absolutely no way DEMONZ JING is just going to leave Yao to his fate" I assumed none of the options led to "the people who depend on us are inevitably doomed".
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Sorta. Obviously if your only goal is to keep Yao safe being there from the start is the most reliable choice to start off with. It's not like they can ring you up at any moment to update you on the trial proceedings, so that you can drop everything and hurry over in case of an emergency. There are no zero risk choices for this one.
ChumBucket
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B
Nevill
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If the current Nuwa is anything like Cao'er of the Old World, that would explain things. That would explain a lot of things.
Guanyin have mercy on our soul!
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I assume as much. I mean, we did take the swordarm of the greatest swordsman to ever inhabit the jianghu (or possibly only the greatest one in recent memory, I'm not actually sure. Though considering he did lose to Big Wang...).
Fangshi
Arcane
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B.
Might as well hop on the bandwagon.
Seems like we can do the most good there. We might be charismatic but everyone at the trial hates us so we will do little to help there and the Beggars should have things under control unless the rebels have some sort of super weapon (and really even with a super weapon they just are not going to beat Rob) so may as well go after the BDS and see what we find.
Might as well hop on the bandwagon.
Seems like we can do the most good there. We might be charismatic but everyone at the trial hates us so we will do little to help there and the Beggars should have things under control unless the rebels have some sort of super weapon (and really even with a super weapon they just are not going to beat Rob) so may as well go after the BDS and see what we find.
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Ghosts of the Butterfly
“Infiltrating a mercenary’s fortress as our first mission together, my dear Lord Jing. How thrilling!” Ameretat is practically bouncing with cheer as her feet hit the ground just behind you. “In broad daylight, at that!”
You look around at the empty courtyard. “The beggars are drawing every eye in the fort, daylight or not.” Just outside of the walls of the Black Dragon Society was a small army of smelly homeless people led by Qi Liuwu and Jiu Mou. They are currently harrasing the guards at the back gate with projectiles of rotten vegetables and weeks-old moldy rice, as well as the finest selection of excrement. Even from here you can hear their chants: to bring out the traitor beggars so that they can settle the issue once and for all. At the front gate, on the other hand, the Killer Physician is being held by the orthodox sects.
“Are you sure you do not need to be there?” asks Yunzi.
“It should be fine. I asked Master Shangguan if he would be willing to help monitor Master Yao’s situation, and he agreed to keep matters as peaceful as possible,” you say quietly, walking up to the guarded prison doors – Zuo and his wife are most likely being held in there.
“That’s not what I meant. I was more concerned for Miss Song,” she replies. “I thought she would be more in need of your support at this moment.”
“She has to decide on her own. It’s not my call to make.”
“For all the work your tongue does, you really do not understand the heart of women,” sighs Qilin, her eyebrows arched as if in disbelief at your denseness.
“Hey-“
“It’s not my call to make,” you repeat, slamming the guard’s head into the wall with your fist before he finishes calling out. He crumples, laid out cold by the blow.
“Regardless, we should hurry.” Yunzi’s whip curls around the neck of the other guard and tightens, causing his face to develop a light blue tint as he makes choking, spluttering noises.
Ameretat runs her dexterous fingers across the guard’s body, delving into his robes before fishing out a ring of keys. She grins, and unlocks the dragon-head padlock securing the doors. She stands aside and bows, saying, “After you, Lord Jing, Holy Maiden.”
The floor slopes down sharply once you enter the building. It looks like the bulk of the prison is dug into the earth. You encounter no resistance; the only prison guards are the ones you put down outside, it seems. Wooden bars stained black by age serve to separate the dozens of small cells down here. Each cell is occupied by at least two or three prisoners in rags, manacled to the dirty ground. The flickering, dim torches do nothing to help you identify them from a distance, and as you pass by, you notice that the most disquieting thing about this prison is the comparative silence. You have visited a few jails in the capital with Shun, and they were always filled with people crying out their innocence and seeking help. Here, the only noise that the prisoners make are a shallow breathing and the occasional low moan that tells you they are still alive. In addition to the thick stink of human waste that is usually found in poorly maintained prisons, you can pick up the smell of rotting flesh – the stench is faint, but it is there. Whether it is human or not, you do not know.
The girls with you are hushed by the strange atmosphere. You can feel them crowding around you closer and closer, the further you travel into the prison’s depths. “You too?” you groan at Ameretat. She is practically pushing her – admittedly soft and enjoyable – body up against your back as if she hopes to meld together. Ameretat only gives you an embarrassed laugh at your rebuke… and you are not so sure if her embarrassment is real.
At the end of the prison you find the people you are looking for.
Zuo Qingfeng and You Lanhai are chained to the earthen walls of their cell. Iron vests, similar to the one you once saw on Yang Xue, are clapped around their torsos and pierced by long needles. You open the cell door to take a closer look. The couple’s eyes are closed – you wonder if they are asleep. You take a further step inside, your foot crushing the dry straw underneath.
“Stop!” A hissed warning causes you to halt. You look down; a young boy is crouched on the ground, his back against the wall. His presence is so weak that you had almost missed him in the dark. A girl of the same age is shivering in his arms. These must be Zuo’s children. They have manacles around their feet; did the Hei brothers gain a sliver of conscience and put the entire family together in the same cell?
“I am a friend of your parents,” you say, trying to convince the boy.
“It doesn’t matter. Get away before they wake up,” he whispers urgently. “It’s almost time.”
“Time for wh-“ Your question is answered before you can finish it.
A quiet, almost imperceptible ring in the air sounds out, and trailing behind it a cacophony rises.
Like a wave sweeping in from the outside, the babbling grows louder and louder as it travels down the prison’s hallway: the prisoners are screaming.
Zuo Qingfeng’s eyes snap open, and so does You Lanhai, next to him. The whites of their eyes are almost entirely a purplish-black, with only a dull gleam reflecting the flames of the torches. They stare at you unblinkingly, but make no noise or movement. Qilin and Yunzi squeak in surprise, clinging onto you from both sides.
“That drug,” mutters Qilin. “The one they used on Fu Xia.”
“Wait, do you know what is going on, big sister?” plead the boy suddenly. “Can you help my parents?”
Qilin’s answer is drowned out by a nearby scream. Zuo and wife shriek and attempt to lunge at their children. The girl cries out, and the both of them withdraw as far as their chains will allow them. Zuo roars and struggles, full of hostile intent. The metal binding him jerks and creaks alarmingly, but for now they hold.
“If it is a drug, there may be an antidote,” theorizes Ameretat. “Who would be likely to have it in this place?”
“The Hei brothers. They run the Black Dragon Society,” you say. You do not have any idea where they would be, however: they could be with the orthodox masters, or confronting the beggars. They might also be resting with their nubile young slaves in the audience hall.
Suddenly, the entire jail shakes. Dust and loose earth fall from above – a tremor from above ground. And in the distance, you briefly sense the presence of a powerful qi. Something has happened.
Then, the metal chains let out a long, drawn out screech as they finally come loose from the wall. Zuo Qingfeng and You Lanhai are free. The chains dangle loosely from their wrists as they stare at their children, and then at you. They scream, as one. Moving far faster than you expected, Zuo Qingfeng, closes in and begins attacking. You are caught of guard; you evade the first two punches but are forced to block the third, and when it lands it hits with such force that it blows you backwards a good distance, crashing through the wooden cell bars. Qilin, Yunzi and Ameretat are fending off You Lanhai, who appears to be attempting to get at the children, but you can tell that they cannot hold her off for long. The swordswoman appears to have gained immense strength and speed far beyond any human – well, normal human – as has her husband, and without fighting seriously they cannot hope to win.
Zuo Qingfeng seems to lose interest in you the moment you are knocked away, and tries to dart around the girls to reach the children. Yunzi reacts swiftly enough to block his path, but he lets out a cry of rage and unleashes a qi attack that blasts her into the wall.
All around you, the once silent prisoners are hollering and slamming on the bars of their cells, seemingly caught in the same frenzy that afflicts Zuo and You; whatever caused that tremor, it also seems to have weakened their bonds. You will have to decide what to do quickly.
***
A. You attempt to subdue the couple peacefully, even if it puts you and the others at risk thanks to the difficulty of the battle. You cannot reach the pressure points through the iron vests that they wear, but if you reposition the needles already present, there is a possibility that you can shut down the berserking pair. You can then retreat with them in tow and search for the Hei brothers.
B. You cannot risk the time and effort required to subdue the couple without killing them. It is a pity, but you will have to put them down. It is the quickest way to bring them peace: there is no guarantee that there is an antidote, and that you can keep them, their children, or yourself safe while you search for it. Something unexpected may be happening outside and this particular problem needs to be solved quickly.
C. You break the chains of the children, grab them and make a run for it. Sure, it might mean unloosing a swarm of madmen outside, and having Zuo and You close on your tail, but you’ll think about that later. For now, escaping the prison safe and sound together with the kids is your greatest priority.
D. Zuo and You’s focus on their children might mean they are not all gone. Perhaps the power of familial love may yet save them: you allow them to come into contact with their children and hope for the best.
“Infiltrating a mercenary’s fortress as our first mission together, my dear Lord Jing. How thrilling!” Ameretat is practically bouncing with cheer as her feet hit the ground just behind you. “In broad daylight, at that!”
You look around at the empty courtyard. “The beggars are drawing every eye in the fort, daylight or not.” Just outside of the walls of the Black Dragon Society was a small army of smelly homeless people led by Qi Liuwu and Jiu Mou. They are currently harrasing the guards at the back gate with projectiles of rotten vegetables and weeks-old moldy rice, as well as the finest selection of excrement. Even from here you can hear their chants: to bring out the traitor beggars so that they can settle the issue once and for all. At the front gate, on the other hand, the Killer Physician is being held by the orthodox sects.
“Are you sure you do not need to be there?” asks Yunzi.
“It should be fine. I asked Master Shangguan if he would be willing to help monitor Master Yao’s situation, and he agreed to keep matters as peaceful as possible,” you say quietly, walking up to the guarded prison doors – Zuo and his wife are most likely being held in there.
“That’s not what I meant. I was more concerned for Miss Song,” she replies. “I thought she would be more in need of your support at this moment.”
“She has to decide on her own. It’s not my call to make.”
“For all the work your tongue does, you really do not understand the heart of women,” sighs Qilin, her eyebrows arched as if in disbelief at your denseness.
“Hey-“
“It’s not my call to make,” you repeat, slamming the guard’s head into the wall with your fist before he finishes calling out. He crumples, laid out cold by the blow.
“Regardless, we should hurry.” Yunzi’s whip curls around the neck of the other guard and tightens, causing his face to develop a light blue tint as he makes choking, spluttering noises.
Ameretat runs her dexterous fingers across the guard’s body, delving into his robes before fishing out a ring of keys. She grins, and unlocks the dragon-head padlock securing the doors. She stands aside and bows, saying, “After you, Lord Jing, Holy Maiden.”
The floor slopes down sharply once you enter the building. It looks like the bulk of the prison is dug into the earth. You encounter no resistance; the only prison guards are the ones you put down outside, it seems. Wooden bars stained black by age serve to separate the dozens of small cells down here. Each cell is occupied by at least two or three prisoners in rags, manacled to the dirty ground. The flickering, dim torches do nothing to help you identify them from a distance, and as you pass by, you notice that the most disquieting thing about this prison is the comparative silence. You have visited a few jails in the capital with Shun, and they were always filled with people crying out their innocence and seeking help. Here, the only noise that the prisoners make are a shallow breathing and the occasional low moan that tells you they are still alive. In addition to the thick stink of human waste that is usually found in poorly maintained prisons, you can pick up the smell of rotting flesh – the stench is faint, but it is there. Whether it is human or not, you do not know.
The girls with you are hushed by the strange atmosphere. You can feel them crowding around you closer and closer, the further you travel into the prison’s depths. “You too?” you groan at Ameretat. She is practically pushing her – admittedly soft and enjoyable – body up against your back as if she hopes to meld together. Ameretat only gives you an embarrassed laugh at your rebuke… and you are not so sure if her embarrassment is real.
At the end of the prison you find the people you are looking for.
Zuo Qingfeng and You Lanhai are chained to the earthen walls of their cell. Iron vests, similar to the one you once saw on Yang Xue, are clapped around their torsos and pierced by long needles. You open the cell door to take a closer look. The couple’s eyes are closed – you wonder if they are asleep. You take a further step inside, your foot crushing the dry straw underneath.
“Stop!” A hissed warning causes you to halt. You look down; a young boy is crouched on the ground, his back against the wall. His presence is so weak that you had almost missed him in the dark. A girl of the same age is shivering in his arms. These must be Zuo’s children. They have manacles around their feet; did the Hei brothers gain a sliver of conscience and put the entire family together in the same cell?
“I am a friend of your parents,” you say, trying to convince the boy.
“It doesn’t matter. Get away before they wake up,” he whispers urgently. “It’s almost time.”
“Time for wh-“ Your question is answered before you can finish it.
A quiet, almost imperceptible ring in the air sounds out, and trailing behind it a cacophony rises.
Like a wave sweeping in from the outside, the babbling grows louder and louder as it travels down the prison’s hallway: the prisoners are screaming.
Zuo Qingfeng’s eyes snap open, and so does You Lanhai, next to him. The whites of their eyes are almost entirely a purplish-black, with only a dull gleam reflecting the flames of the torches. They stare at you unblinkingly, but make no noise or movement. Qilin and Yunzi squeak in surprise, clinging onto you from both sides.
“That drug,” mutters Qilin. “The one they used on Fu Xia.”
“Wait, do you know what is going on, big sister?” plead the boy suddenly. “Can you help my parents?”
Qilin’s answer is drowned out by a nearby scream. Zuo and wife shriek and attempt to lunge at their children. The girl cries out, and the both of them withdraw as far as their chains will allow them. Zuo roars and struggles, full of hostile intent. The metal binding him jerks and creaks alarmingly, but for now they hold.
“If it is a drug, there may be an antidote,” theorizes Ameretat. “Who would be likely to have it in this place?”
“The Hei brothers. They run the Black Dragon Society,” you say. You do not have any idea where they would be, however: they could be with the orthodox masters, or confronting the beggars. They might also be resting with their nubile young slaves in the audience hall.
Suddenly, the entire jail shakes. Dust and loose earth fall from above – a tremor from above ground. And in the distance, you briefly sense the presence of a powerful qi. Something has happened.
Then, the metal chains let out a long, drawn out screech as they finally come loose from the wall. Zuo Qingfeng and You Lanhai are free. The chains dangle loosely from their wrists as they stare at their children, and then at you. They scream, as one. Moving far faster than you expected, Zuo Qingfeng, closes in and begins attacking. You are caught of guard; you evade the first two punches but are forced to block the third, and when it lands it hits with such force that it blows you backwards a good distance, crashing through the wooden cell bars. Qilin, Yunzi and Ameretat are fending off You Lanhai, who appears to be attempting to get at the children, but you can tell that they cannot hold her off for long. The swordswoman appears to have gained immense strength and speed far beyond any human – well, normal human – as has her husband, and without fighting seriously they cannot hope to win.
Zuo Qingfeng seems to lose interest in you the moment you are knocked away, and tries to dart around the girls to reach the children. Yunzi reacts swiftly enough to block his path, but he lets out a cry of rage and unleashes a qi attack that blasts her into the wall.
All around you, the once silent prisoners are hollering and slamming on the bars of their cells, seemingly caught in the same frenzy that afflicts Zuo and You; whatever caused that tremor, it also seems to have weakened their bonds. You will have to decide what to do quickly.
***
A. You attempt to subdue the couple peacefully, even if it puts you and the others at risk thanks to the difficulty of the battle. You cannot reach the pressure points through the iron vests that they wear, but if you reposition the needles already present, there is a possibility that you can shut down the berserking pair. You can then retreat with them in tow and search for the Hei brothers.
B. You cannot risk the time and effort required to subdue the couple without killing them. It is a pity, but you will have to put them down. It is the quickest way to bring them peace: there is no guarantee that there is an antidote, and that you can keep them, their children, or yourself safe while you search for it. Something unexpected may be happening outside and this particular problem needs to be solved quickly.
C. You break the chains of the children, grab them and make a run for it. Sure, it might mean unloosing a swarm of madmen outside, and having Zuo and You close on your tail, but you’ll think about that later. For now, escaping the prison safe and sound together with the kids is your greatest priority.
D. Zuo and You’s focus on their children might mean they are not all gone. Perhaps the power of familial love may yet save them: you allow them to come into contact with their children and hope for the best.
D is bound to work well. 
I'm sure that's the reason they were put in the cell together. The parents just want to hug their children lightly...
I'm sure that's the reason they were put in the cell together. The parents just want to hug their children lightly...
Nevill
Arcane
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2009
- Messages
- 11,211
A tremor above ground. A presence of powerful qi. What could it possibly be, considering we left the beggars with Armaiti and Vairya?
Apparently, the confrontation has begun.I am strongly considering turning tail, since we are strapped for time. But if we decide to flee, we will be proceeding on our own, or at least with only half of our team. The children cannot be left unsupervised.
It is interesting, though, are these madmen controllable? Would it be a mistake to seek out the masters of this place with them in hot pursuit? It would be wonderfully poetic if the brothers met their end at the hands of their victims... if only it works that way.
Or maybe the brothers will be forced to return them to normal just to try and escape their fate. Or maybe they will sic them on us. Who klnows?
What can we do about it, though? We can't fight them all.
I find it strange C is the only option that talks about unleashing the mad horde. How do we prevent that from happening in the other choices?
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