[LP] The Way of the Tiger. (Complete)

[MisterDee]

Considering how terrible we seem to be at ruling, let's go find problems that can be punched in the nuts.

[angelfromanotherpin]

The journey is long and hard. A raiding party of Dark Elves almost capture you as you slink through the Rift-pass but you elude them. The lands you enter beyond the Rift are wild but fertile. A great forest of elms stretches on, seemingly forever. After many days in the Deeping woods, you skirt the cities of Segesvar and Pest, covering league after league relentlessly until at last you near your goal.

The Mountains of Undying Solitude loom before you, dark and forbidding, like gnarled fingers clawing blindly at the dirty grey sky. A cold biting wind that chills your bones strikes up as you move through the foothills. The black clouds, heavy and ponderous, empty themselves on the lifeless earth, and great sheets of freezing rain and sleet buffet you as you struggle upward. It is as if the mountains themselves were trying to sweep you off their sides, just as a man would remove an insect that troubled him. The land is all but barren, a hostile land tortured by the elements, where few plants or animals, let alone men, can survive.

As you climb, you come to some sparse vegetation, shrubs and bushes, blowing violently in the keening wind as if they struggled desperately against something that sought to tear them by the roots from the life-giving earth. A mountain goat huddles miserably under a small bush, looking at you dumbly as you pass by. Water runs off your body in rivulets and it is not long before you are struggling wupwards through a small rushing torrent as the rain cascades down the mountainside. It is only your rigorous training that enables you to withstand this punishing weather.

You clamber on, fatigue creeping up on you slowly. Eventually, you come to a halt. A great chasm opens up before you as if some god-like titan had slashed the earth with his sword. Beyond it, and rising up into the sky, are the Crags of Abandoned Hope, crooked jumbles of stone, towering upward above the mountain like a crown. A thin stone bridge, about two feet wide, spans the chasm – of natural origin, not man-made. Up above you, the mountain leans over and joins the massive expanse of forbidding stone on the other side. A difficult climb, but you could reach the other side by climbing up and across, and then onward to the crags.

• Will you cross the thin bridge? X
• Or, if you have the skill of Climbing, go upwards and across? √


You tie the Cat's Claws to your hands and feet, and swing the grappling hook up high. It clatters against the stone, barely audible over the rushing wind, and anchors itself on an outcrop of rock. You haul your weather-beaten body upwards, crawling like a fly up the sheer rock-face, hands and feet finding holds where no ordinary human could. Just as you feel that your aching limbs will not serve your will any longs, you reach the top.

Down below, the thin stone bridge spans the chasm like a tightrope. Below that, yawning blackness. A gnarled mass of stone arcs downwards to the other side. Beyond it, a mountain track leads upwards towards the Crags of Abandoned Hope that reach skyward; higher still, you notice a cave-mouth near the track, but it is the creature emerging from the cave that holds your attention.

A massive humanoid figure lumbers out, sniffing the air, as if it had caught the scent of prey – presumably you. Its knotted limbs are heavy with muscle and hair. A single eye stares out from a misshapen head, topped by a wicked-looking horn. It is a Horned Cyclops. It descends the pathway to the chasm's edge, looking intently across the bridge, obviously expecting to see something upon it. When it finds nothing, it looks about suspiciously but does not spot you.

• Descend and attack the creature from above?
• Climb down the path behind it and head on up the crags in an attempt to avoid it?

Avenger I, Overlord of Irsmuncast-nigh-Edge
Modifiers: Kick +1, Throw +1, Fortune +1
Inner Force: 5/5
Endurance: 20/20
Techniques: Acrobatics, Climbing, Disable Device, Poison Needles, Kwon's Flail, ShinRen.
Shuriken: *****-*****-*****-***
Ninja Tools: Ninja Costume, Breathing Tube, Iron Sleeves, Garotte, Flint & Tinder, Spiderfish.
Special Items: Opal Ring, Pouch with 14 Gold Pieces, Locket with Saint's Hair, Silver Shuriken, Statuette of Dama, Coronation Day Coin, Ruby Circlet.

[Omegonthesane]

We can only hope that a law-loonie like Gwyneth isn't about to spring another coup on us despite her position. A-questing we must go!

And do you get murderified the moment your Popularity hits negatives?

[Darth Rabbitt]

Let's fight this guy, since our only other opponent in this entire book so far has been a disappointingly easy Mandrake.

[rampaging-poet]

Let's knock this thing off the cliff if at all possible. It obviously doesn't expect death from above. The cyclops is probably too big to poison, so I'm putting in an advance vote against using poison needles if that option's given.

[Corsair114]

There are ninjas. There are probably half-scorpion/half-kool-aid man super ninjas. They all know we're coming.

I think this call for the Ninja Gaiden-approach (hopefully they don't have Ninja Dogs).

[angelfromanotherpin]

You climb down until you are only a few yards above the beast. You leap down behind it, noiselessly. You are readying to attack it again when it sniffs the air again and spins around with a roar, shouting as it spots you, 'Man-thing! I've not eaten manflesh for many a day,' in a thunderous voice, more like the growl of a wolf than the common tongue. However, you have time to hurl a Shuriken at it. Its Defence is 6.

(Zero shortage of Shuriken, so... 8 is a hit; 5 damage.)

The Cyclops balls its hammer-like fist and, head down, charges at you, bellowing loudly. You avoid its bulk with ease and then move in to attack.

Will you use:
• a Forked Lightning kick?
• an Iron Fist punch?
• the Dragon's Tail throw?

[Ancient History]

Kick it in the fork!

[angelfromanotherpin]

You step inside its sweeping arms and unleash a double kick at its groin and solar plexus.

HORNED CYCLOPS
Defence: 7
Endurance: 19 14
Damage: 1 die+3

If the Horned Cyclops still lives, it tries to bring its massive fists together on your head. Your Defence is 7 as you try to duck.

(5+1 is a miss; Its 2 is also a miss.)
(9+1 is a hit, 3+2 damage; its 9 is also a hit, 3+2 damage.)
(6+1 is a miss; its 3 is also a miss.)
(7+1 is a hit; 4+2 damage; its 5 is a miss.)
(6+1 is a miss; its 7 is a miss.)
(7+1 is a hit, 4+2 finishes it!)

Your last blow took the Cyclops in the chest, sending it staggering backwards. It is unable to check itself and, with a great cry of fear, it topples into the chasm, its voice echoing away into nothingness. You turn away and head up the path. It goes past a large cave mouth; a flicker of torchlight lights its interior.

• Enter the cave?
• Continue up the path?

Avenger I, Overlord of Irsmuncast-nigh-Edge
Modifiers: Kick +1, Throw +1, Fortune +1
Inner Force: 5/5
Endurance: 15/20
Techniques: Acrobatics, Climbing, Disable Device, Poison Needles, Kwon's Flail, ShinRen.
Shuriken: *****-*****-*****-**
Ninja Tools: Ninja Costume, Breathing Tube, Iron Sleeves, Garotte, Flint & Tinder, Spiderfish.
Special Items: Opal Ring, Pouch with 14 Gold Pieces, Locket with Saint's Hair, Silver Shuriken, Statuette of Dama, Coronation Day Coin, Ruby Circlet.

[Darth Rabbitt]

We whacked off the horny one-eyed monster like a pro, so let's go into its hole and plunder its booty. (Translation: we go into the cave.) Also, the cyclops is basically these guys and the whole fight reminds me of one in Seas of Blood.

[Corsair114]

Let's plunder us a cave.

[angelfromanotherpin]

You enter the Cyclops' dwelling. It reeks with a foul stench of rotting flesh and excrement that hits your nostrils like a solid wall of odour. Retching, you look about. There is filth and rubbish everywhere. In one corner there is a heap of old clothes, weapons, splintered bones and so on – the remains of previous victims.

• Search through this heap? √
• Leave the cave and continue up the path? x


Looking through the pile of rubbish reveals only a disgusting stink, until you notice an old and battered Ninja's costume, presumably that of the Scorpion Ninja from the Valley of Scorpions. Rolled up in it is a small iron ring; a small black scorpion set in amber is its stone – an insignia of the Ninja of the Way of the Scorpion. Pocketing it, you leave the cave and head on up the path.


The path leads up towards the forbidding Crags of Abandoned Hope. Soon it becomes little more than a series of footholds which appear to be little used – or, at least, anything that has been this way has not left any tracks. At last, the torrential rain ceases and the sun peeks out from behind the clouds. However, the fresh light serves only to highlight the barren nature of these hills.

After a time, the path widens into a small flattish clearing, directly below the three gnarled crags. Then you freeze in shocked surprise; by its edge lies a seemingly innocent rock, but carved into it is a Whirlpool symbol, the symbol of the god Nemesis – the god of the Ninja of the Way of the Scorpion. Your senses straining, you search the surrounding rocks intently. A feeling that someone – or something – is watching you becomes overwhelming. Cold, hostile eyes are upon you.

• Ignore the feeling and climb up the crags?
• Act as if you were about to be attacked and dive for the cover of a nearby outcrop of rock?
• If you have a ring with a scorpion set in amber, hold up the ring and say, 'I am Ninja, of the Way of the Scorpion, returning home from a mission given me by the Grandmaster of Shadows.'
• If you have a ring with a scorpion set in amber, hold up the ring and say, 'I am Ninja of the Scorpion, of the Island of Plenty, with messages for the Grandmaster of the Ninja of the Mountains of Undying Solitude; this ring is my token of faith.'

[Corsair114]

Vote for option 4.

Number 3 sounds too much like what happened when we encountered the Paladin in Usurper and tried to lie about being a member of his faith.

[Darth Rabbitt]

Agreed.

[angelfromanotherpin]

You hold up the Scorpion ring and your words echo around the rock-enclosed clearing. There is a moment's silence. Then a figure drops down from above, a fall of twenty feet, to land nimbly before you, barely making a sound. He stands legs apart, facing you, hands at his sides. It is a Ninja of the Way of the Scorpion, dressed in black from head to toe, and with a Ninjato, or short sword, strapped to his back. He says nothing, but steps aside and points up the rock-face that leads to the base of the crags, signalling you to go on, his eyes regarding you inscrutably from the thin slit of his hood.

(Avenger has the skill of ShinRen.)

You examine his posture and the way he holds himself, using the skills you learnt through the Heart Training. He is relaxed and seems to have no violent intent in his soul – at the moment. Confident he plans no deception, you move forward.


You stride slowly past him and his eyes follow you as you clamber up the rock-face. You can feel his gaze burning into your back, and a point between your shoulder blades begins to tingle. Resisting the temptation to look behind you, you climb on. It only takes a few minutes, but it seems like an eternity to you – it is hard to believe this other Ninja intends to let you pass freely. However, nothing happens and soon you are standing at the base of the three Crags of Abandoned Hope that tower over you.

The vista that stretches ahead takes your breath away. A valley opens up below you, surrounded by mountain peaks. Unlike the barren and lifeless expanses of the Mountains of Undying Solitude, the valley is green and lush. You are looking down on the fabled Valley of Scorpions, one of the most feared centres of evil on Orb, where the black-hearted Ninjas of Nemesis are trained. Outlying fields, extensively farmed, surround a small cluster of buildings in the middle of the valley. The village is enclosed by a man-high stone wall. You follow another winding goat track down.


Soon you can make out small figures moving amongst the fields and buildings and you decide to leave the path, striking out across the valley-side, so as to approach the village from a less obvious quarter. There is nothing below to suggest that Ninjas inhabit the village, but you feel sure that all those rough-looking farmers and mountain villagers are adepts of the Way of the Scorpion in disguise. Nor do any of the buildings look large enough to be suitable as training halls and there is certainly nothing to suggest that this is the only other Ryu, or school, outside the Island of Plenty for the Way of the Scorpion on Orb.

• Descend to the village straightaway?
• Wait in hiding until nightfall?

[Starmaker]

Descend now. Hiding would've made sense if we had pretended to be a local AND it worked. We come as a representative of an ally and a stranger, and we're probably watched. No need to break the act.

[Omegonthesane]

Descend into the Ken. Or the Barbie, I'm not quite sure.

[angelfromanotherpin]

It is not long before you have reached the valley floor. You move like a shadow through the fields towards the village. You think you have not been spotted when you reach the village's edge, but suddenly a score of figures, Ninjas like you, emerge as if from nowhere, and are joined by several more from turfed-over pits in the ground. You are surrounded.

One of them says, 'Welcome to the Valley of Scorpions, lackey of Kwon.' You fight valiantly, taking several with you, but there are simply too many of them and you are cut to ribbons in minutes.

(Laaammme!)

A rocky enclave provides a suitable hiding place and you rest for the remainder of the day, meditating and observing the village below. The thought that you are amongst the most deadly and most evil asassins on Orb fills you with worry at times. As evening falls you notice that several 'villagers' climb down the well at the centre of a cobbled square, rather than go to any of the houses. No doubt the real centre of the Ninjas' base lies below ground.

When night has fallen over the valley, like a cloak, you move down into the fields. Everything is quiet save for the muted scratchings of crickets and the occasional hoot of an owl. The valley would be idyllic if it weren't for its inhabitants. You pass through the night like a shade, flitting from tree to bush, unseen in the moonlight. As you near the stone wall, some kind of sixth sense tells you all is not as it should be.

(Avenger has the Detect Traps skill.)

Your keen eyesight picks out a strange inconsistency in the weave of the grass, just discernable in the moonlight. You can make out a square outline as if of a turfed-over pit, just ahead of you and slightly to the right.

• Walk up and open it?
• Turn around and walk backwards past it, so you are facing the pit but still heading towards the stone wall?
• Walk past the pit a few feet and crouch down, facing the pit?

[Darth Rabbitt]

Walk backwards past it.

[Korgan0]

Yeah.

[angelfromanotherpin]

Turning about, you pad quietly past the pit's outline, without breaking your stride. A few moments after you have passed it, you notice the top of the pit move slightly and a shadowy figure erupts silently out of it, like a spectre. In the moonlight, you can see it is another Ninja. He carries a length of chain with a wedge-shaped weight at one end and a short stick with a sickle blade at the other. It is a Kusarigama. However, he pulls up in surprise at seeing you facing him and you have time to act.

• Hurl a Shuriken?
• Spit a Poison Needle?

[Darth Rabbitt]

If we're going for maximum stealth, we want to use a Poison Needle.

[rampaging-poet]

Hope this guy doesn't have Poison Immunity and spit a needle.

[angelfromanotherpin]

A needle is on your tongue and winging its way toward your target in an instant. It slaps into the Ninja's face just below his right eye, a perfect shot. The Ninja stiffens in shock. 'What trickery is this?' he gasps, plucking at the needle. 'Spiderfish venom! Curse you and the Tiger for this!' and he sinks to the ground, twitching. Perhaps it is the night wind, but you thought you head him whisper as he fell, 'But you are truly Ninja.'



You creep through the night. Everything is quiet when you come to the low stone wall that surrounds the village. You slide over it silently, crouching at the other side and reaching out into the night with your senses. But everything remains still. You steal into the village itself, unseen – as far as you can tell. Some huts have lanterns outside and you avoid these pools of light like the plague. Eventually, you are standing beside the well at the centre of the village.

You climb into it and edge your way down – back to one wall, feet braced against the other. It is black as coal, and you cannot see anything save for a glimmer of yellow light below you. As you near it, you see it comes from a side tunnel set in the wall, some ten feet above the water in the well. As quietly as you can, you enter the tunnel and find yourself able to stand.

The tunnel, more like an alcove in fact, ends in a wooden door which has a lantern beside it. The door is painted with a large red scorpion, rising out of a whirlpool; over the door an inscription reads 'Make the night your friend and darkness your cloak of invisibility.' You notice a small indentation where the handle should be – a circular lock.

(Avenger has a Scorpion Ring.)



It seems that the ring will fit perfectly into the door's lock. You insert the amber stone into place. To your excitement there is a click and the door slides open, to reveal a dimly lit corridor stretching away into darkness. Cautiously, you step in.

The floor and ceiling are polished wood – clean and simple. The walls are of sculpted stone. Carven gargoyles and demonic forms surge out, as if to bite and snap at those that walk this corridor.

Without a sound, you glide on down the straight devil-lined corridor, senses alert, your heart beating rapidly. You are stealing into a veritable pit of scorpions. Death lurks, ready to pounce upon you like a wolf-spider on its prey. In the dim light, it seems the sculpted faces and figures mock you silently; as you pass them your spine tingles in anticipation – you half expect them to roar into life and devour you.

After a time, the corridor bends to the right. As quiet as the void, you pause, feet apart, and crouch. Carefully, you look out and down the corridor. About twelve feet away, a figure stands, another Ninja guard, beside a door. His back is to you. A Ninjato is strapped to his back. He stands in an attitude of relaxation, yet is unmoving.

• Creep forward and garotte the sentry?
• Hurl a Shuriken at his head from the corner?

Avenger I, Overlord of Irsmuncast-nigh-Edge
Modifiers: Kick +1, Throw +1, Fortune +1
Inner Force: 5/5
Endurance: 15/20
Techniques: Acrobatics, Climbing, Disable Device, Poison Needles, Kwon's Flail, ShinRen.
Shuriken: *****-*****-*****-**
Ninja Tools: Ninja Costume, Breathing Tube, Iron Sleeves, Garotte, Flint & Tinder, Spiderfish.
Special Items: Opal Ring, Pouch with 14 Gold Pieces, Locket with Saint's Hair, Silver Shuriken, Statuette of Dama, Coronation Day Coin, Ruby Circlet, Scorpion Ring.

[Korgan0]

SHURIKEN