Votes tallied, Xu Shiyou will ask to be taught the martial arts, as that won over telling him that he is well pleased with his lot by a 3-1 vote.
278
The abbot sucks in his breath. ‘It is a shame that you cannot control your emotion,’ he says. Nevertheless he allows you to begin training. Your tutor is Flying Turtle, a short, bald fellow. Every day he takes you out into the woods behind the monastery, shows you a pile of wood, and tells you to stamp on every piece until it is broken. You then carry the broken wood back to the monastery, where it is used to fuel the kitchen fires. You don’t seem to be learning much self-defence but, when you protest, Flying Turtle just shouts at you.
Weeks and months pass. Add 1 year to your Age, 4 points to your Permanent STAMINA and 2 points to your SKILL. Write the word ‘wood’ on your
Adventure Sheet. Turn to 300.
300
You are summoned before a council of the highest-ranking monks in Baochou Monastery. Dry Jade tells you that, because of your special qualities, you have been selected to represent the monastery in a quest to recover a sacred relic, a drinking vessel said to have belonged to Shazi, a prophet of Am in ancient times. The relic is hidden in the realm below, a mysterious underworld full of hidden dangers. You are led to the black marble gates which mark the entrance to the underworld, where the monks bid you farewell. Turn to 399.
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]
399
You start down the steps. Visibility is limited: the tunnel is lit only by a faint luminescence from the walls. Your body feels light and your mood is euphoric. After a while the steps reach a platform, a small square chamber. Out of the shadows emerges an old man, his face familiar but not identifiable. ‘I am Meng Zhidao. I will guide you through these tunnels. In everything there is a pattern, and you will understand only if you observe the pattern. Balance, balance and progress – concentrate on these. Now follow me.’ He turns and starts to descend another flight of steps. As if in a dream, you follow. At the bottom of the stairs another tunnel leads off into the gloom. Without hesitation you follow Meng Zhidao along it. You emerge into a foul-smelling cavern, but you have no time to take in its contents before you become aware of another figure, which has just emerged from a parallel tunnel to your right. If you have a red robe, turn to 27. If you have a white face, turn to 177. Otherwise, turn to 298.
Xu Shiyou has a red robe.
27
The other figure is wearing robes similar to yours, but his face is painted bone white. As soon as he sees you, he crouches. If you have the word ‘wood’ on your
Adventure Sheet, turn to 373; otherwise, turn to 132.
Xu Shiyou does have the word “Wood” on his Adventure Sheet.
373
[spoiler]
[/spoiler]
The figure sidles towards you, moving like an insect. As fast as a praying mantis, his leg sweeps at you. Instinctively, you stamp down, the way you broke wood for Flying Turtle. Your opponent screams in pain. His next approach is more wary.
WHITE-FACED MONK SKILL 8 STAMINA 8
If you defeat the monk, turn to 267. If he defeats you, turn to 93.
The fight:
[spoiler]Round 1: White-Faced Monk Attack Strength: 12, Player Attack Strength: 12;
White-Faced Monk Stamina: 8, Player Stamina: 13
Round 2: White-Faced Monk Attack Strength: 17, Player Attack Strength: 20;
White-Faced Monk Stamina: 6, Player Stamina: 13
Round 3: White-Faced Monk Attack Strength: 14, Player Attack Strength: 13;
White-Faced Monk Stamina: 6, Player Stamina: 11
Round 4: White-Faced Monk Attack Strength: 11, Player Attack Strength: 17;
White-Faced Monk Stamina: 4, Player Stamina: 11
Round 5: White-Faced Monk Attack Strength: 15, Player Attack Strength: 12;
White-Faced Monk Stamina: 4, Player Stamina: 9
Round 6: White-Faced Monk Attack Strength: 13, Player Attack Strength: 14;
White-Faced Monk Stamina: 2, Player Stamina: 9
Round 7: White-Faced Monk Attack Strength: 20, Player Attack Strength: 14;
White-Faced Monk Stamina: 2, Player Stamina: 7
Round 8: White-Faced Monk Attack Strength: 17, Player Attack Strength: 12;
White-Faced Monk Stamina: 2, Player Stamina: 5[/spoiler]
Okay, so the fight has progressed to the point where the White-Faced Monk is at 2 Stamina, while Xu Shiyou is at 5 Stamina. Should Luck should be used in the rest of the fight to reduce the damage that our hero takes?
The first choice to receive a 2-vote majority will be used to resolve the rest of the battle. If no choice has a winning margin before 11:00 AM PDT, I will make the choice based on which votes are cast.
Adventure Sheet
[spoiler]Xu Shiyou
SKILL:
Temporary: 8
Permanent: Undetermined
STAMINA:
Temporary: 5
Permanent: 13
LUCK:
Temporary: 9
Permanent: 10
FEROCITY: 3
When FEROCITY = 0, turn to paragraph 200
AGE: 15
Initial Age = 13
When AGE increases, lose 2 FEROCITY
MONEY: 10 Gold Pieces, 30 Copper Coins
EQUIPMENT LIST:
Wooden Sword
Pronged Spear
Wide-brimmed Hat
Walking Sandals
Red Robe
PROVISIONS REMAINING: 1
NOTES:
King
Offers
Wood
RESURRECTION USED?: No[/spoiler]