Ok ladies and gents, cue up your iTunes to Unearthly Trance "Firebrand" from the new one, Trident. Nod your head to the doom and read along.

This is the final installment of Si Juk's solo adventures. But certainly not his last adventure ever!

Continued from this thread:
http://burningwheel.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3330

Someday, we'll have to put them all up on the wiki, eh?



Rich and I talked about playing our final installment a couple of days after session 3. We were both excited and, I think, both a little sad that it was going to end. And it was very clear it was going to end. I was explicit: "One more session. Hell, it'll be one scene, with one conflict!" Rich looked at me dubiously. I grinned, "One conflict, that's all."

"Yeah, right."

Rich came over one evening -- I think it was a week night. We watched the latest episode of The Wire and then sat down to play.


One element I didn't mention before was where we played. There's a game room at GHQ. I specifically didn't set up in there. Instead, we set up at the kitchen table. We would wait for the house to quiet down or empty out and then we'd set up at the kitchen table and go at it. I don't know exactly why I did this, but I think it was important. It became part of the ritual and it definitely put us in a new and different space.


When we sat down this time, I had an two main things in mind. First, no more searching. I felt that Rich had turned over every stone on his quest. He had won that last conflict with Zhu and now he'd move on to his destination. Second, that didn't mean he was going to get what was his without a fight. I had some good twists ready -- I'd spent all week going over the situation in my head. I knew what decisions I wanted to confront him with. (Though I still did NO prep for the session beyond that.)



To start, I described Zhu Kwan leading Si Juk and company upriver, past familiar territory, to a section of the river they'd never been to: the northwestern shore, near where the Woodrock branches and forms the East River.

They arrived at a place Si Juk had heard about -- an old hobgoblin fortress built into the reeds and swamps. This was an old outpost and raiding base during the war. These hobgoblins -- the Kuni Giza -- were excellent riverine troops. Thus they were assigned to harass and interdict. Of course, this was nearly 15 years ago! Chujitsu, Si Juk's bodyguard, was a member of the clan assigned to this duty. No one had ever told his clan that the war was over. They stayed on for ten years after the war was over, until Vega and Palgi Park came and convinced them that their task was done. Some of the hobgoblins went with Vega and Palgi. Others stayed on, just in case. So this was something of a homecoming for Chujitsu. Though he was as surprised as anyone that the trail lead here!

They arrived at this old, worn out, river raiding base and walked along the boardwalks laid among the tall reeds. The place was mostly deserted except for a few hobgoblins and a few Niraih dressed as penitents in simple shifts, carrying wooden bowls of rice or water.

Zhu Kwan lead them back upland to a large clearing. A smooth wooden floor had been laid across the swampy ground of the clearing. There were four buildings -- two large cabins, an open air kitchen and a latrine at the far end. Some penitents sat outside the doors of both cabins. Standing at the center of the clearing was a bearded, long-haired man. He was practicing Si Juk's own sword form, Takashido!

Rich has Si Juk walk right up to him, "Sir. Do I know you, sir?" I had the stranger smile and lean in to Si Juk. He covered his beard with one hand, "Si Juk, it's me, Vega. I knew you'd find me here. I'm glad you've finally come! Now we can return the Emperor and get out of this damnable mosquito nest!"

I think I saw Rich's jaw bounce off the table on its way to the floor, but I could be wrong.

But I didn't let up. Out of the cabin on the left, I described young Emperor Mino emerge, "Excellent, Inspector, you've returned. I trust you've taken care of the wizards? All is safe at the capital? Good. We'll be leaving immediately. Vega, fetch my things. Si Juk, come to your Emperor. There is just one last thing I need you to do for me before we leave..."

Rich's eyes were wide and his mouth was twisted in disgust. He was searching for words, but I didn't give him the chance to break in.

"Si Juk, your Emperor needs you. Within that cabin right there dwells a mad man. He possesses a sword of ancient power and might that the Throne must have. You will go in there right now, slay him and take the sword and return it to me. Then we will leave and return to the Throne."

Rich was sputtering in horror at this point. I was, true to form, grinning evilly. "Duel of Wits, Rich. That's my Statement of Purpose. Duel of Wits. Right now. Let's go."

Rich finally started yelling, "No! Can I roleplay first? Can I? Can I fucking roleplay first? Huh?"

I was laughing. We were both on our feet. Rich indicated that he tore away from the Emperor's grip on his arm. Mino was a man in his 30s, raised in court. Si Juk was in his late 20s, hardended and scarred from years of poverty, trial and adventure. They made quite a pair -- and Rich had long ago made it clear that he personally despised the Mino character, and Si Juk followed suit.

Rich spewed venom, "I will never commit murder for you, you corrupt weakling." He went on at great length.

"I shall make you my personal sword instructor! Come now!"

Rich was about to respond, when I cut him off: "Duel of Wits or not?"

He hesitated.

"Yes or no?"

"No! Fuck him! I walk away. I return to Vega and talk to him."

"Excellent. Mino's eyes glitter and he smiles thinly as you walk away."

More coming soon, gotta go to work!

===


The final destination of this adventure was very interesting to me. Not necessarily what it was, but what it wasn't. When we decided to do these sessions, the idea was to beef up Si Juk and then get him into a position where he forms his martial cult. Obviously, that didn't happen. Rich was a little concerned at the end, but I think the final result more than made up for it.