Wan City General Roleplay

[Dong Zhou]

I hate PT events

It had been a good spring day, the weather was starting to warm, the sun was shining, the streets were quiet, her body felt in good shape with the bruises faded. Even Jiang Yan was behaving himself, nothing even Sun Xiang could overreact to for at least a week now, Huang Dong hadn't thought of resigning, the generals hadn't tried to show their manliness. There were a lot of times when being a guard was a hard existence but on days like this, where the sun was shining and all was calm, the chance to ride around the city, keeping order by projecting the image of the guards was a pleasant job.

Her mood had got even better when she saw someone sneaking out of a library outside of opening hours with a bag looking rather full. Li Jun having a horse, a sword and having spotted him before he spotted her had an easy chase. He had panicked in his attempt to flee and stumbled while her personal guard kept calm, closing in around him and keeping their feet. Once he had been caught, her juniors escorted him to jail and while she found the chief librarian who had been grateful for the return of the manuscripts.

To her surprise and delight, the old scholar had gone through the bag and handed her a manuscript, suggesting it would be of more use to her then most of his clients. She looked down and saw it was Military Classics, a manual she had sometimes eyed enviously in the shops but had not been able to afford. Gushing her grateful thanks, she hugged it to her armoured chest, looking forward to reading it that night and begin improving her understanding of battle and of leadership. Like all guards, she knew there was a chance of reward sometimes like collecting a bounty but she had never got anything so valuable in her life.

Li Jun was an experienced professional, she was able to get her head back into working the streets but when she returned to barracks, poor Li Min having to deal with an unusually excited and animated Li Jun. The guard captain was not much of a reader but she worked hard to improve her craft and to get such a free boon, to get such kind reward, had lifted her spirits.

=====

Perhaps had she not get that manual, perhaps if she had a difficult day, there would not be a crowd gathering around a fishmongers stall, waiting to see blood. Chanting for it. Li Jun had been returning home through the market, looking for something special to eat for supper, joking as she passed people she knew and being more jovial then usual. When she passed one fish-stall had, judging by the smell, been out in the sun too long.

Muttering to herself

"If I eat this rotten food, I'll be out with food poisoning. Going to be a lot of sock people in Wan tomorrow..."

She had not meant it to be heard and if it had been, she wouldn't expect a reaction as it was one of the many downfalls of being a merchant. Clearly this this fishmonger was not in the mood to hear his produce was rotten, shoving his way from out of his stall to Li Jun and shoving the guard, his language turning the air blue. Li Jun tried to calm things down, holding her hands up in penitence but when she saw him reach back for a weapon, Li Jun drew her sword. She would have to fight and she would have to win, a guard losing to a fishmonger in such a public space would do nothing for the guards or her reputation. What would she do afterwards? First things first, assert authority over the hot head by point of sword.

[UnholyBlade]

I love PT events.

A sick artisan asks you to visit the bazaar for him to sell his wares. Unfortunately, the trip failed to result in any profits.
A group of traveling mercenaries offer to bolster security in your city while they are there for 50 gold.
You deeply offend some troops in your city, and some of them desert. -13(0) troops!

The month of march was a prosperous time. Winter was beginning to fade in earnest, the snows were beginning to melt, and with it nature was beginning to start its revival. Soon the farmers would be tilling the fields with renewed vigor and commerce would resume as it always had. As the weather became less oppressive, people responded with increased activity for all to see. More people walking the streets, more merchants hawking their wares, more traffic coming in and out of the gates of the city, and more children playing whenever and wherever they could.

Dai Ren had awoken early this morning and took it upon himself to walk a patrol beat before the sun had risen. If it could be said Dai Ren enjoyed anything, it would be the solitude his job could sometimes afford. With the first vestiges of dawn beginning to color the sky, Dai Ren left the barracks in his usual attire of a brown cloak draped across his back, an iron cuirass, leather pants and boots, and a sword belted at his waist. It was times such as these that the streets were as empty as they would be. Most footpads had long since retreated to their warrens, and most of the city dwelling people had only recently begun to stir, leaving the streets nearly empty. Being a captain, he was never assigned to go out on patrol. Since Liu Shentong's ascension to Grand Administrator, Jiang Yan, Li Jun, and himself rarely had time to perform any of the basic duties of a regular guardsman. Being shorted a captain naturally gave them all slack to pick up, but with their now officially sanctioned duties gravitating them towards more martial affairs opportunities to get out and walk the city were becoming fewer by the day.

Amidst his morning walk, Dai Ren noticed a small stall in one of the market quarters of the city was already set up. Had it been set up this early, before even the sun had appeared, or was it left out overnight? He peaked into the stall, looking for the owner. He found an old man, slumped behind the facade of the shop, sleeping in a chair. He prodded the geezer, trying to be as respectful as one could when trying to wake someone. The elder awoke with a grunt and a groan, and sputtered a few curses to the guardsman. Ren did not bother with the insults. In a quick turn of events, the elder sparked a conversation with his waker in the back of the wooden stall. He told the young man how he had been getting over a sickness he was sure would kill him, and now his bones ached more than ever. His sons had all gone off elsewhere to different cities, all four in a separate direction, and had left him all alone to attend to his shop and suffer his illness.

Enduring this small talk and sad story, Ren found himself agreeing to run the shop for a few hours so the old man could get some more rest. He doubted Dai Ren had the true eye of an artist, nor the quick witted intellect that a shopkeeper of his skill could ever possess, but his fatigue was getting the better of him and the help was never-the-less appreciated. Dai Ren watched the elder hobble away down the street and wondered what he was getting himself into as he unbuckled his sword belt and set it behind the counter. Unfortunately, Ren did not manage to sell any of the wares of the aging artist. By the time the elder had returned, he could see that his wares remained untouched since his departure. Ren thought it due to the fact that the sun still hadn't crested the horizon, but the shopkeeper had no shortage of excuses and reasons to yell at the young man. Shrugging, Dai Ren bade the old man farewell amidst several grumbles about the incapable-ness of the youth of this age.

The rest of the patrol had gone uninterrupted. What few people were around that early in the day had not paid a member of the guard any mind. Too busy setting up for the day, Ren estimated. The sun was over the walls, and dawn was beginning to fade as Dai Ren made his way to back to the barracks. Another reason Dai Ren had gotten up so early this morning was that he knew another batch of recruits was to begin training today. He had a penchant for being early in most things, but when it came to training, he was always the first in, last out. As usual, the training grounds were empty. Rows of sack clothed combat dummies were arrayed in rows for teaching individual and lined formation tactics. Bulls-eye targets flanked either side of the dummies for the archers to practice in their dedicated lanes from varying distances. Most of the training grounds, however, were an open, mostly packed dirt field, well used and flattened by generations of Wan soldiers. Here is where Dai Ren would drill formations and marching into the recruits, and begin to instill the militaristic type of discipline required for any army to function effectively during combat.

Removing his cloak and his cuirass, Dai Ren set them on the ground as he took a training sword from a nearby post. The sword was heavy, blunt, and flat, and created in a way to minimize the risk of cutting or stabbing those found opposite of it. It was perfect for training, for if one could use the unwieldy training blade, a well oiled and balanced weapon would seem almost childs-play. Dai Ren began warming up on the training dummy, slowly moving through the forms he would be teaching his recruits soon. Swords and spears were the backbone of any army. Archers and Cavalry were often the bigger draw for new troops, as stories and songs always told tales of heroic battalions of bowmen and devastating cavalry charges, but it was the pivotal roles of the infantry that really provided for the bulk of those stories. After working up a minimal sweat with his sword forms, Dai Ren moved over towards the formation training section and grabbed a training spear. Blunted, as the sword was, but with enough of a point to ensure the person being attacked didn't want to get hit, it was another effective training weapon for recruits to minimize injury while improving on their technique.

After a few minutes of spear play, enough recruits had trickled into the training grounds to warrant the training to officially begin, with more coming each minute. Estimates from the report given to him yesterday put the count of troops at nearly a thousand, but Dai Ren's own approximation had placed that below what he expected. Nothing was to be done about those who didn't show, he couldn't go through and track down everyone who didn't show for their training, but he could get started with what he had present. "Attention!"

The loud yell cut through the mild ambient noise that had risen in the training grounds, but a very awkward rattling of homemade weapons, grunts, leather jerkins, and unexpected voices were what responded to the call to attention. Soldiers knew what attention was, and knew what training was for. These men were not soldiers. Not yet. "I want two companies, ten across and as deep as we need to be even. Move!" The resulting chaos was anticipated and expected as men and boys moved around to figure out where the lines were being organized. Dai Ren kept silent, but handed ten training spears to the front ten in the first company, and showed them how to stand with their spears at parade rest before doing the same with the second company.

Seeing the captain handing the weapons out had the intended effect, as lines began to quickly coalesce as the farther ranks realized how the order had been established. It took a few minutes, but he soon had two companies of a couple hundred bodies each. He clasped his hands behind his back and walked through the divide between the two companies as he approached what he gauged was the center of the formation. I am Captain Dai Ren. You will address me as Captain. Each of you here signed up for the same thing, regardless of your past or your creed. Every man here, Myself Included, is here to Die.

He paused, and let his words sink in. More than a few grumbles and moans were heard, though none were made when the captain drew near. "Each man here, Myself included, signed up to serve the Emperor. Right now, Rebels have encircled the empire, and look to destroy us, our way of life, and everything He has helped to build and create. We are to be his shield. We are to be his arm. We are to be his justice. We are all here, to Die in his name, and make the Rebels Die in His.

Grand Administrator Liu Shentong stood where you all stand now. Captain Jiang Yan stood where you all stand now. Captain Li Jun has stood where you are stand now. I have stood where you have stand now. Every soldier in this city knows why they are here. Now you know too. It is my job, my Duty as Captain, to keep us all alive as long as possible. Listen to me, Listen to your betters, Trust the Emperor, and we will see you as far as you are meant to go.

This life is not for everyone. I will work you to the bone, and I will keep working you. I will push you harder than anyone has pushed you before, because I do not want untested, weak soldiers guarding my flank. I do not want cowards defending my City. My troops will not break, My soldiers will not run, this I promise you. Your brothers in arms will not leave you behind, and it is my job to make sure you repay that trust in kind. The Emperor does not accept anything less than everything you have, and neither do I. If you doubt your being here, I do not want you. I will sense it. Your brothers will sense it. Those you are supposed to protect will sense it, and I will not jeopardize myself or the rest of the men giving their lives here with your weakness. Those of you who remain, let us begin your training."

It was exactly as Dai Ren promised. He had not been gentle, nor had he been forgiving or lax in his training. He usually went out of his way to be difficult and ensure discomfort among his soldiers for the first training session as a way to weed out those not actually suited for the tough life of soldiering. Unfortunately, while many recruits left before the training had started, many had been trickling away throughout the strenuous training. Its possible that he had more than the couple hundred he had initially estimated, but he doubted he ever truly had the near 2000 strong troops he had been assigned. At the end of his failed training session, a small group of soldiers were left. These men looked fresh, and Dai Ren doubted they were apart of the training regimen he had placed the troops through. One approached him, who Ren assumed was the leader.

"Didn't go so well for ya today, did it?" Dai Ren said nothing, but stared at the man waiting for him to continue. "Tell ya what, you pay me and my boys for the week we're 'ere, and we'll help guard ya city for yeh. Nothing improper like, mind, but after today I'd bet ya startin ta hurt for recruits eh? We're honest, and ya look like ya could use the 'elp." Dai Ren paused for a moment, placing a hand to his chin in thought. He decided he would pay the men, as the help was needed. Word would spread after today, and an increased presence could help bolster morale in the army.

"Here. 50 pieces for the week. You and your squad will . . . ." Dai Ren outlined their assignments for the week, ensuring them he would be checking their placement and their commitment to their word. The mercenary company withdrew, leaving Dai Ren alone on the training yard as it was when he first arrived. He gathered up his things, and finished his personal exercise with the bow, his favorite of the three basic weapons. First in, last out. He hoped tomorrow would be a more productive day as he let his mind drift in order to focus on his archery.

[Sir Ebrum]

I hate PT events
.
.
.
"If I eat this rotten food, I'll be out with food poisoning. Going to be a lot of sock people in Wan tomorrow..."

She had not meant it to be heard and if it had been, she wouldn't expect a reaction as it was one of the many downfalls of being a merchant. Clearly this this fishmonger was not in the mood to hear his produce was rotten, shoving his way from out of his stall to Li Jun and shoving the guard, his language turning the air blue. Li Jun tried to calm things down, holding her hands up in penitence but when she saw him reach back for a weapon, Li Jun drew her sword. She would have to fight and she would have to win, a guard losing to a fishmonger in such a public space would do nothing for the guards or her reputation. What would she do afterwards? First things first, assert authority over the hot head by point of sword.

The surrounding people hurriedly back away from the incipient brawl.
"Oh carp, a fight!"
"Holy mackerel, he's gone and pissed off a city guard."
A space was swiftly cleared, leaving only Li Jun, the Fishmonger, and his pungent pile of putrescent piscids.

[ShadInquis]

OOC: RP-ing the angry fishmonger as Dong Zhuo and Sir Ebrum are OK with it.


What do you mean, "rotten food"!?
The burly man slammed his hand on the stall, sending some of the smaller fishes into the air and into people's faces. Based on the the curses of those affected, they were not too impressed with the "gift".
How dare you slander my business! My fish is the freshest in town! Look at this! Smell this! This was caught today at the river. See for yourselves!
A small argument broke out, with some of the poorer classes saying "it doesn't any different than usual" and blaming "rich boys" who need to smell a freshly fertilized field or the tanners to realise what the real world is like. Someone pointed out that some of the fish appears to be ocean fish, and not river fish. The fishmonger angrily responded that it was live in a tank and brought on orders for the old governor.
"Enough! I don't care about your fancy armor and ranks. You insult my business, so I will teach you a lesson, the hard market way." The merchant reached for his stall. Seeing Li Jun draw her sword he laughed. "What, you scared, girl? Go take that toy somewhere else. There is no shortage of bandits and rebels outside of town. We merchants are no murderers. I will beat that into your stupid head too!"
With that, the fishmonger drew his "weapons" : a large, nearly meter-long cod in his right hand, and a string of coins in his left. Whipping both of them about, she shouted: "So, what is it going to be? You going to pick up a real market weapon or not. You got to the count of five!"
Some of the more enterprising men in the market began taking bets on the winner of the fight.

[Sir Ebrum]

Li Jun
93-63-70-30-60

Fishmonger
50-57-48-52-50

 

Round 1
Li Jun
HP 100 • War 63 • AP 63
Fishmonger
HP 100 • War 57 • AP 57

Li Jun attempted to Intimidate the Fishmonger, but failed.
Li Jun attacks and hits for 12 damage.
The Fishmonger slaps Li Jun around with a large trout for 7 damage.

Round 2
Li Jun
HP 93 • War 63 • AP 33
Fishmonger
HP 88 • War 57 • AP 57

Li Jun attempted to Feint, but failed.
The Fishmonger slaps Li Jun around with a large trout for 9 damage.

Round 3
Li Jun
HP 84 • War 63 • AP 3
Fishmonger
HP 88 • War 57 • AP 57

Li Jun attacks and hits for 10 damage.
The Fishmonger slaps Li Jun around with a large trout for 9 damage.

Round 4
Li Jun
HP 75 • War 63 • AP 3
Fishmonger
HP 78 • War 57 • AP 57

Li Jun attacks and hits for 11 damage.
The Fishmonger used Double Fillet!
The Fishmonger attacks and hits for 9 damage.
Li Jun was injured by the Fishmonger's attack! War -9!
The Fishmonger attacks and hits for 8 damage.
Li Jun was injured by the Fishmonger's attack! War -8!

Round 5
Li Jun
HP 58 • War 46 • AP 3
Fishmonger
HP 67 • War 57 • AP 7

Li Jun attacks and hits for 8 damage.
The Fishmonger slaps Li Jun around with a large trout for 9 damage.

Round 6
Li Jun
HP 49 • War 46 • AP 3
Fishmonger
HP 59 • War 57 • AP 7

Li Jun attacks and hits for 7 damage.
The Fishmonger slaps Li Jun around with a large trout for 11 damage.

Round 7
Li Jun
HP 38 • War 46 • AP 3
Fishmonger
HP 52 • War 57 • AP 7

Li Jun flees the scene!
The Fishmonger grumbles about "the one that got away."

[Kun Tiao]

Ju-Long

(sorry for being late!)

"A little, indeed, true." While the girl was speaking lightly, that story clearly wasn't something making her happy

now.

"This event is, I hope, in the past, and anything that happened after it has nothing to do with me, nothing at all. And actually I know not much about everything happening outside the house, especially after that story."

[Achira]

Kun Tiao - It is no problem

Ju-Long Bai noticed that he brought something up that was sensitive. He saw that she was not really happy with the question. He thought "Stupid Ju-Long..." He tried to make it up, he said in a humble manner: "My apologies, you are right, what happend in the past should remain in the past..." to change the subject he gave her a friendly smile "Perhaps you noticed, I am a humble breeder who does not know much about the city lives and occupations. How does a lady like you develop herself while staying at home? Do you have... any occupation like... let say reading, composing music, perhaps military strategy?"

[Dong Zhou]

As Li Jun clutched what she feared where broken ribs, making her way to Chen Ping for healing, she cursed her misfortune. The pain of the fish smashing into her side was bad enough, the results were messy in terms of blood and each step now sending a nasty jagged pain into her woozy head, each breath taking more effort and pain then it should have. Yet some part of her knew that while her body would, probably, be repaired but her reputation would take longer to heal.

She had attempted to use her wit and her authority to ensure the duel was in her favour but none of it had worked, then the angry smelly fishmonger had turned the table, one hit shattering her chances and tilting the day towards him. Li Jun had known her day was done and retreated but word of a guard captain being beaten by a fishmonger would soon reach the barracks she was sure of it. Knocked out in one battle, defeated by a civilian in a duel, she was going to need a major victory soon before she became a laughing stock and her career collapsed. If she couldn't do something that put people's snickering away from her, she feared she would lose ability to command the men and the confidence of her collegues. She didn't enough enough money to retire and she was not near marriage, word would follow her if she left to serve another city so her future prospects did not look good.

For now though, simply getting healed was the issue. She would just have to let the damage to her pride fester for now...

[cjh1k2004]

As Li Jun clutched what she feared where broken ribs, making her way to Chen Ping for healing, she cursed her misfortune. The pain of the fish smashing into her side was bad enough, the results were messy in terms of blood and each step now sending a nasty jagged pain into her woozy head, each breath taking more effort and pain then it should have. Yet some part of her knew that while her body would, probably, be repaired but her reputation would take longer to heal.

She had attempted to use her wit and her authority to ensure the duel was in her favour but none of it had worked, then the angry smelly fishmonger had turned the table, one hit shattering her chances and tilting the day towards him. Li Jun had known her day was done and retreated but word of a guard captain being beaten by a fishmonger would soon reach the barracks she was sure of it. Knocked out in one battle, defeated by a civilian in a duel, she was going to need a major victory soon before she became a laughing stock and her career collapsed. If she couldn't do something that put people's snickering away from her, she feared she would lose ability to command the men and the confidence of her collegues. She didn't enough enough money to retire and she was not near marriage, word would follow her if she left to serve another city so her future prospects did not look good.

For now though, simply getting healed was the issue. She would just have to let the damage to her pride fester for now...

As Li Jun made her way to her healer, though, she would hear the sounds of argument coming from an alley she passed. If Li Jun turned to look, she would see a strange sight - the hooded figure of her fellow captain Jiang Yan, apparently engaged in a heated argument with a girl who seemed to be a couple of years younger.

Seeing Jiang Yan was almost always a strange sight - his eccentricity being well known to Captain Li - but the sight of Jiang Yan actually arguing was especially odd. The two of them were far away enough that Li Jun would not be able to hear their arguments clearly (snatches of "You shouldn't have brought her" and "Public security" would be all that Li Jun could make out), but that didn't matter very much as both of them looked up and noticed the injured Li Jun limping past them. The girl immediately rushed to Li Jun.

Girl: "Oh man, are you alright, miss? You look like someone assaulted you badly. Are those broken bones? Oh man I don't have anything on hand to treat those now, you should go somewhere to get that looked at..."

On and on she went, apparently full of energy and unfazed by Li Jun's wounds and injuries as she offered a hand to the injured guard captain. Jiang Yan, however, seemed unwilling (or unable?) to move, as he stood in the alleyway quietly observing Li Jun, his gaze fixed squarely on her.

[Dong Zhou]

Li Jun would have ignored Jiang Yan, not wanting to risk dealing with the latest eccentricity while her body needed medical care, but his... partner noticed her. Her concern was touching and Jiang Yan's lack was noticeable though she didn't mind, Jiang Yan was not unkind but they were not close and he handled things in his own way.

"I lost a fight and I am heading to Chen Ping to get medical care. Think I have broken some ribs at least...."

Li Jun found it was rather painful to talk but she had one question.

"You are?"

[cjh1k2004]

Li Jun would have ignored Jiang Yan, not wanting to risk dealing with the latest eccentricity while her body needed medical care, but his... partner noticed her. Her concern was touching and Jiang Yan's lack was noticeable though she didn't mind, Jiang Yan was not unkind but they were not close and he handled things in his own way.

"I lost a fight and I am heading to Chen Ping to get medical care. Think I have broken some ribs at least...."

Li Jun found it was rather painful to talk but she had one question.

"You are?"

As Jiang Yan continued to observe, the girl tilted her head slightly.

Girl: "Me? My name's Liyan. I work at the medical outpost here, although I'm just an apprentice there. Still can't really do very much for serious wounds, I'm sorry..."

As Liyan continued looking over the guard captain, she sighed a little.

Liyan: "You need an actual doctor for your wounds. I think you've broken half your ribs... Captain Li Jun, was it? I think I've seen you around when I've visited the Garrison.

Hey, you useless brother, come and help your colleague!"

That last sentence was snapped at Jiang Yan, Liyan still visibly annoyed from her argument with him. Jiang Yan began to walk towards them, but instead of stopping at Li Jun, he walked straight to the next alley, and began quietly speaking to someone who had been silently observing the entire party the whole time. Li Jun would recognise this new, hitherto unseen person as wearing the grey cloak of Jiang Yan's personal archer contingent, who had recently begun emulating their captain's mannerisms and dress. Liyan sighed and shook her head.

Liyan: "I'm sorry about that. He's too far gone. Can you walk by yourself?"

[Dong Zhou]

Li Jun nodded at her name, she didn't want to speak more then she had to at this point. It was a pity Liyan was not able to fix her and she would have to keep walking to Chen Ping but at least it confirmed her painful suspicions that the fish had somewhat broken her ribs.

"Don't worry, it isn't a long walk to Chen Ping's work. I'll be fine to get there for healing."

Li Jun wanted to leave but in her less then clear minded state, something was bothering her. Not that Jiang Yan wasn't coming to help, Jiang Yan could end up in his own little world sometimes, but something was off...

"Is Jiang about to cause another scandal?"