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Finally... => Forum Games and Roleplaying => Topic started by: NRDL on June 10, 2019, 12:41:29 am

Title: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: NRDL on June 10, 2019, 12:41:29 am
What is martial arts?

Some say it is a sword, meant to destroy ones enemies

Some say it is a shield, meant to protect the valuable things in life

Some say it is an expression of the self. A means to develop and enrich one's soul.

Whatever it is, the way of the martial arts is the path you seek.

What is your name?

What is your gender?

And where does your journey begin?

A. The coastal city of Odenport, great seaside economic hub of the Empire.

B. The sleepy village of Milt, in the outskirts near the Lone Mountain.

C. The decadent city Valum, capital of the Empire and hive of treachery.
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: King Zultan on June 10, 2019, 04:27:50 pm
Name: Mr. Wong
Gender: Male
Where does your journey begin?
 B. The sleepy village of Milt, in the outskirts near the Lone Mountain.
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: Tyrant Leviathan on June 10, 2019, 05:09:46 pm
Name: Shu Hoo ( Hoo or Ho oh means Phoenix. Shu? Just thrown in.)
Male
Place: C. Would love to do a adventure with a troubled big city youth who finds himself and during that adventure is actually leaving the city.

Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: NRDL on June 11, 2019, 12:09:54 am
Coinflip, landed on tails. Shu Hoo it is.


Valum. Beautiful Valum. Sickening Valum. Your home for the last 16 years of life.

The towers of the city reach as high as the clouds, some days. That's the view from the ghettoes, at least. Only the central buildings are given any sort of space to breathe. Everything else is shithole after shithole, squeezed together like branches in a bundle.

Your life has been:

A. Wretchedly poor. Lowest of gutter trash, you have never known anything but the life of an animal. Starving and penniless, you seek the strength to take something resembling life for yourself.

B. Blessedly rich. Not the most elite of the elite, but high enough where your name carries weight. Burdened by expectations and a frail body, you seek the strength to make your family proud.

Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: King Zultan on June 11, 2019, 04:32:16 am
A
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: ZBridges on June 11, 2019, 04:54:56 am
A
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: Superdorf on June 11, 2019, 06:13:38 am
A. Wretched guttersnipe oughta be better at beating people up, yes?
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: NRDL on June 11, 2019, 01:27:25 pm
You start today the same as every other, hungry. Looking around, you see the sewers you call "home". To your left lies your mother, still sick. Wrapped in as many pieces of cloth you could find. Smaller than even you, right now, and barely breathing.

Clambering up the steps to the surface, while blinded by the light of the morning, you're immediately knocked on your ass. The pain barely registers, and you look up to see this shitheel of a guard walking past you. You let it go. What can you do?


...

What CAN you do?

The sheer helplessness of that question infuriates you.


A. Steal from the big house nearby. The gentleman who lives there moved in recently. Some wiseman from the East, apparently. Looks rich enough, and there barely seems to be any sort of defences.

B. Fight in the dog pits. Not exactly the Arena, and the odds of you fighting either a boy like yourself or a hound are about even. Tough way to earn money, and barely any for that matter, but it's something.

C. Beg near the Gymnasium. All the hulking bastards there seem well fed enough, maybe they'll have something to spare for little you.
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: King Zultan on June 12, 2019, 03:41:18 am
A
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: Tyrant Leviathan on June 12, 2019, 12:53:17 pm
Torn eternity A and B. Can coo flip it or just accept A for the plot.
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: Funk on June 12, 2019, 04:10:52 pm
Quote from: King Zultan on June 12, 2019, 03:41:18 am
A
A
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: NRDL on June 12, 2019, 09:37:33 pm
You walk past the house in question, glancing at it from the corner of your eye. An iron fence around it, but no gate. Odd choice. Two floors, 4 windows that you can see. As uneducated as you are, you can tell that the house is impressive. Ornately carved wooden walls, pillars on the outer edges, and a very big door. Looks like it would take two men to open it.


You're in the middle of your analysis when you feel something behind you. It's something big, dangerous. A dog? No, it feels almost like an entire squad of guards with their spears aimed at your back.

Looking down at your hands, you see they're shaking.

You turn around.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

What do you do?

Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: Tyrant Leviathan on June 12, 2019, 10:14:53 pm
This old man is probably like a super magic old man given the aura presence. Err, speak to him and hope he does not beak our face in training montage?
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: NRDL on June 12, 2019, 10:17:57 pm
Any specific thing you want to say, or any sort of general intent you'd like Shu to convey?
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: Superdorf on June 12, 2019, 10:26:40 pm
"I have nothing. I am nothing. I must save my own. I must preserve my own. Help me. Teach me."
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: Tyrant Leviathan on June 12, 2019, 11:27:34 pm
Quote from: Superdorf on June 12, 2019, 10:26:40 pm
"I have nothing. I am nothing. I must save my own. I must preserve my own. Help me. Teach me."

Perfect. +1
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: Taberone on June 12, 2019, 11:53:36 pm
Quote from: Superdorf on June 12, 2019, 10:26:40 pm
"I have nothing. I am nothing. I must save my own. I must preserve my own. Help me. Teach me."

Do this.
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: NRDL on June 13, 2019, 03:40:37 am
The words fly out of your mouth without you meaning to. It feels like it's been so long since you've properly spoken to another human being. The hoarseness and timidity of your voice betrays you.

The man just continues to stare at you. Smiling all the while. Slowly, ever so slowly, the mirth leaves his eyes and his mouth droops downward. His face looks like a mask, every bit as still and lifeless as the owl visage he wore.

"You wish to learn? From me? You poor creature." There's pity in his voice.



You look down at the ground for the merest second, and when you look back up he's somehow moved directly in front of you, staring down at you, his face just inches away. You didn't hear him, didn't even feel his movements, which is a first. Is this how you die?

The stare down continues. You don't move. You know, you just know, if you move, he will kill you. With the same ease it would take for him to snap a twig. You know it in your bones.


"You really are a piece of vermin aren't you? You know you can't run, and you certainly can't fight. Can't speak worth a damn, but you've got some impressive instincts."

Still keeping still, as still as you can. You understand his words, his arrogance and yet you can't help but notice his pseudo-compliment at the end.

"It's rare to find youths like yourself within the confines of these...cities. Most of the poor here have already given up on living, from what I've seen. Even now, in your seeming acceptance, your eyes are alive." He pauses. Then closes his eyes.

"Very well then."

You blink. Suddenly you find yourself breathing. Slowly, then rapidly, then you're collapsing on the floor, relief flooding your body. The sense of danger suffusing your very being subsides. And you look up.

"My name is Quin. You shall refer to me as Master. Nothing else."

Without saying another word, Master Quin turns and walks into his house.

And it appears you're life is about to go through a monumental change.


Part 2 of this turn will be up soonish, no need for actions yet.

 
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: NRDL on June 13, 2019, 04:02:07 am
The days pass busily. Master Quin is quite the taskmaster, and quite cold when directly instructing you. Oddly enough, when he's just going about his business or watching you from a distance, you occasionally catch his stoic face disappear. But only for a moment.

You're grateful for the bread he gives you, which you try to share with your mother. Whatever her thoughts are on this new source of food you've found, you don't know. She's even more quiet than you are.


The training itself is odd. Master Quin had you do:

A. Extensive manual labour, chopping all his firewood, maintaining his yard, and arranging the things he lets you touch.

B. Forcing you to expand your vocabulary, by making you look at all these strange books of men in various poses and wearing really old Eastern clothing.

C. Making you chase the birds that flutter into the yard every now and again. They're quick bastards, and every time you fail you get less food for the day.
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: King Zultan on June 13, 2019, 04:13:11 am
B
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: Tyrant Leviathan on June 13, 2019, 08:49:59 am
Hmm. Rossi/Miga training, magic king fi books, or Rocky style speed. All interesting, vote latter.
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: Tyrant Leviathan on June 13, 2019, 02:02:20 pm
Meh B works. Makes us educated and move list.
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: NRDL on June 13, 2019, 08:07:26 pm
You go over the books and scrolls day in and day out. Words and words and words. Names of old men and women whom you've never heard of before. The pictures help. Every person's actions have a set of words, even stories associate with them.

You try to ask your Master why you're reading about these people, which only merits a smack on the back of the head.

After another week of endless study, and actually speaking to another human being, your language ability has grown tremendously.


And beyond that, you've started to notice patterns in the pictures and accompanying stories. Each individual, man or woman, whether they're punching or kicking or scratching or whatever else, seem to be standing in very specific poses. The poses change, depending on whether they're attacking, blocking, or evading.

One day, you decide to try it yourself. It's awkward. You're much more used to moving, well, naturally. Sticking to all these rigid forms and foot positions is just plain annoying.

But still you keep at it. Another week passes, and you find yourself moving a fair bit more comfortably. You have now learned basic Stances. Choosing to change your stance between offensive, grounded, and evasive might make attacking, blocking or dodging a bit easier. The trick is knowing when to use it.


Turn part 2 coming up soon.
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: NRDL on June 13, 2019, 10:16:38 pm
It's been another month. Your practice with analysing the forms on the books and actually applying it to yourself are starting to bear fruit. You have no real talent for this repeated practice, but effort and time bear fruit nonetheless.

Your day in day out routine changes, when:

A. You decide to go earn some money at the dog pits, under Master Quin's supervision.

B. A strange woman decides to visit your Master's home.

C. Your Master leaves for some time, leaving behind instructions to "watch over" the house.
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: King Zultan on June 14, 2019, 05:38:47 am
C
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: Superdorf on June 14, 2019, 09:37:14 am
Mm, depends. How's our mother doing?
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: NRDL on June 14, 2019, 01:27:32 pm
Currently looking a bit better. The extra food's gotten her through her period of illness, although she's still as quiet and aloof as ever. At least she's not unconscious for most of the day.
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: Superdorf on June 14, 2019, 01:36:23 pm
Hm, alright then. A is unnecessary now. C is just asking for trouble. Let's go with... B.
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: Tyrant Leviathan on June 14, 2019, 03:08:38 pm
Hmm.

B means mystery person, which is interesting. C, has way too much on which we cause problems that we will have to fix.
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: Taberone on June 16, 2019, 01:05:32 am
Mystery person! Go with "B".
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: NRDL on June 16, 2019, 08:00:37 am
The day the woman arrived, in her flowing black dress, you thought you'd never seen anyone so beautiful. She told you to fetch your master, and without even the slightest bit of thought or hesitation, you did.

Master Quin walked out, his face narrowing when he saw the woman.


"Another Daughter. You seek death, as well?" he spoke.


At this the woman in black grinned.

"You should know by now the answer to that, old man."


The next thing you saw, the woman in black leaped forward, hand outstretched, lunging with everything she had at your master's face. Just before her fingertips reached him, Master Quin managed to coil his body backwards, his spine bending at an almost impossible angle.
His own hand wrapped around her forearm, stopping her movement, and for moments the two were locked in an almost comedic dance.


You barely see what Master Quin does afterwards, but the next thing you know he is behind her, wrapping his limbs around her body like a snake, seizing at every joint and point of movement.
She can barely move, and you think immediately that victory is in your master's grasp.


With a ghostly wail, the woman screeches, and you have to place your hands over your ears to try and block the head splitting pain. Looking up, you see Master Quin thrown backwards, not by any movement but as if he was thrown by an invisible force. The woman in black dusts herself off, and turns around at Master Quin, who managed to land his feet.

You notice his ears are bleeding.


"I always hated that." he mutters, his eyes never leaving her.

At this the woman smiles again, takes a deep breath, and you realise in the pit of your stomach that she is about to screech again. Closing your eyes and covering your ears with all your might, you wait for a terrible noise that never comes.


When you open your eyes again, the woman is on the floor, blood seeping from her throat. Master Quin stands above her. His body no longer looks like the fluid thing you saw him be earlier. Now, it strangely reminds you of a lean chicken. Or a hawk swooping in for the kill.

In his hand is her throat, torn from her body.

"What a shame. I'd planned on staying in this city longer.", your master says, seemingly to himself.

Master Quin turns to you, his visage the most terrifying you'd ever seen since the day he met you.

"Will you come with me? To the wilds of the East? Or will you stay here?"


Do you choose to go with him? Or stay?
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: King Zultan on June 16, 2019, 08:12:27 am
We should go with him, as our training isn't complete and we should bring our mom.
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: Taberone on June 16, 2019, 10:32:18 am
Quote from: King Zultan on June 16, 2019, 08:12:27 am
We should go with him, as our training isn't complete and we should bring our mom.

+1
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: Detoxicated on June 16, 2019, 11:38:33 am
Quote from: King Zultan on June 16, 2019, 08:12:27 am
We should go with him, as our training isn't complete and we should bring our mom.
+1
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: Tyrant Leviathan on June 17, 2019, 12:24:55 am
Yes join our bad ass mentor.
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: Outsider on June 18, 2019, 11:07:08 am
Uh...dude just turned into a bird-thing and killed a banshee?

We goin' with him. Bet.
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: Leonardo8 on June 18, 2019, 07:18:04 pm
We are defnitely going with him, but let's try to bring our mum with us, or at  the very least do some arrangements for her.
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: NRDL on June 18, 2019, 08:05:23 pm
"Your....mother? Bahahahaha!" Your master raises his chin to the sky, his hands on his hips, his laugh bellowing.

But you have to bring her. You can't leave her. You don't have the words to explain, or even any real understanding yourself, but you have to protect your mother.

Your master turns back to look at you, after he's done with his giggle.

"You think yourself so important, boy, to make demands of me? When you've shown barely any glimmer of potential?"

He walks right to you, the look in his face savage, and amused. He grips your face with his hand, his fingers feeling sharp as talons.

His face turns impassive, and he stares into your eyes. You stare back, with all the force and feeling you can muster.

"Fine."

He throws you to the ground, seemingly without effort.


"Land one hit on me. If you can manage that, I'll carry her on my back myself."

You almost smile, but then he raises his hand.

"If you fail to do this, and admit defeat, I'll take your eye. If you do not have any natural talent, I'll just have to make you suffer until you have no choice but to become stronger."


Master Quin stands several feet away from you, his hands behind his back. His stance is neutral.


What is your first move?
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: Detoxicated on June 18, 2019, 08:29:20 pm
Aggressive stance
Jab jab Low Kick Back Kick Front kick
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: King Zultan on June 19, 2019, 06:39:04 pm
Quote from: Detoxicated on June 18, 2019, 08:29:20 pm
Aggressive stance
Jab jab Low Kick Back Kick Front kick
+1
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: Leonardo8 on June 20, 2019, 04:33:26 pm
Quote from: King Zultan on June 19, 2019, 06:39:04 pm
Quote from: Detoxicated on June 18, 2019, 08:29:20 pm
Aggressive stance
Jab jab Low Kick Back Kick Front kick
+1
I dont' think we have a chance to hit him, have you seen what he did to that woman? We should say to him: I know i cannot hit you. I am not stron enough, not yet then strike him when he goes for our eye.
Title: Re: [SG] Way of the Martial Arts
Post by: Outsider on June 20, 2019, 04:49:51 pm
Quote from: Leonardo8 on June 20, 2019, 04:33:26 pm
Quote from: King Zultan on June 19, 2019, 06:39:04 pm
Quote from: Detoxicated on June 18, 2019, 08:29:20 pm
Aggressive stance
Jab jab Low Kick Back Kick Front kick
+1
I dont' think we have a chance to hit him, have you seen what he did to that woman? We should say to him: I know i cannot hit you. I am not stron enough, not yet then strike him when he goes for our eye.
This. +1