I’m just about ready for Spring Kraken, one of the highlights of the TTRPG gaming calendar, and so I thought I’d share my prep for one of the games I’m running there. This scenario was the very first one I ran for Feng Shui, way back in (I think) Continuum 2018, and sad to say my original notes are lost in the mists of time and changes of laptops / cloud storage. So I’ve reconstructed it!
For this scenario, you’ll want all the PCs to pick archetypes that are native to the Ancient juncture – they start there, and then transition for the finale to cheesy 1999 Hong Kong, for out-of-time comedy effect! I used the Secrets and Clues approach from Sly Flourish to prep and give some revelations to the scenario – let me know how you think they’ve worked out!
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The Empress’ New Clothes
A one-shot for Feng Shui
In Ancient China, sinister eunuch sorcerers have struck, and stolen the newly braided Empress’ yellow dress! More to the point, they have kidnapped the Empress herself! Can you follow the thread of clues through ancient caves and a Netherworld portal to 1980s Hong Kong and stop an attempt to capture a powerful Feng Shui site across time?
Feng Shui 2 is the game of action movie roleplaying from esteemed Krakeneer Robin Laws! Expect to bring awesome action and sharp wit to a fast-paced pulp adventure!
Secrets / Clues
The Eaters of the Lotus have infiltrated the Empress court for years, under the guidance of Quiet Viper, Wu Zeitan’s vizier
They have manipulated her to choose a dress from The Tailor, a sorcerous vassal capable of deadly magical sacrifices
The Tailor is guarded by Laughing Bao, a huge bodyguard who have served the Lotus Eaters for generations and who loves gyoza
Laughing Bao is a transformed Ox – he keeps his condition secret from all but The Tailor
Bringing a bound Empress Wu Zeitan to 1985 Hong Kong at the night of the Chinese New Year of the Ox will give the Lotus Eaters control of the cities Feng Shui sites against the Ascended
The Tailor exists in all junctures – he is woven through the timelines like a thread!
The Tailor’s future counterpart, The Beetle, is right now working on a Feng Shui ritual that will take place in 2000 – the Millenium Bug!
Laughing Bao’s 2000 equivalent, Furious Gao, also accompanies him in 1985, now a very obvious transformed Ox
The Tailor has chosen to operate out of an inaccessible mountain village in order to be distant from any Feng Shui sites – the PCs must travel through the netherworld to find him
The particular netherworld caves he has chosen involve a powerful guardian – a sleeping dragon!
Cast – Foes
Irresistible Needle, The Tailor / The Beetle – immortal thread weaver – BOSS
Attack 17 / Def 15 / You 7 / Spd 8
Powerful needle & thread (13)
Back to the Wall – if attacked by more than one character, shot cost drops to 2
Auto Re-Arm – shot cost of picking up new weapons is 0
Anti-Mystical – +1 Def vs Creature Powers and Sorcery attacks
Garotte of Destiny – at the beginning of each sequence, if the foe is still up, all heroes lose 1 Fortune
Laughing Bao – psychotic transformed Ox
Martial Arts 14 / Def 12 / You 7 / Spd 6
Wrecking Ball (12)
Pep Talk (cheerful laughter) – spend 1 shot and make an attack against the last hero that tried to hit you; on a success, revive 1 mook + outcome and spends 2 more shots
Furious Gao – psychotic transformed Ox
Martial Arts 14 / Def 12 / You 7 / Spd 6
Wrecking Ball (12)
Furious Wrath – if last attack missed, gain +1 Attack and +3 Damage (non-cumulative)
Quiet Viper, lotus blossom vizier
Sorcery 13 / Def 13 / You 5 / Spd 7
Blast (10)
The Millenium Bug, Irresistible Needle of the Future
Attack 14 / Def 13 / You 5 / Spd 7
Hacked technology (10)
Anti-Mystical – +1 Def vs Creature Powers and Sorcery attacks
MOOKS
Attack 8 / Def 13 / Spd 5
Attack (8)
Cast – NPCsChun Wu – old ox-wrangler; member of the Empress’ court; retired Jiang Hu warrior and sorcerer
Still weilds his ox-lariat if needed to defend himself
Has fought Immaculate Needle before, in the old days of warriors
Will accompany the heroes
Has an equivalent rambling story for every event that happens
Endless Smoke – immortal Chinese dragon; guardian of the netherworld; reluctant ally of The Tailer
Speaks slowly especially when in a rush
Can be tricked into falling asleep, or confused with riddles
A terrible netherworld guardian, but a decent scene filler
PC Jennifer Weng – young Hong Kong cop charged with keeping the peace; somehow a relative of one of the PCs; can follow the threads of time
Speaks in action movie cliches
Refuses to believe in anything magical, but knows a villain when she sees one
Always wants to do things by the book
Prelude – Introduction
Hand out and review character archetypes. This adventure is set in the Ancient Juncture, 690 AD, so players should choose / reskin accordingly.
Montage an introduction for each PC including their dramatic hook – and how they have become part of the Empress’ entourage.
Scene 1 – Lotus Falls Village, China, 690 AD
The PCs, as trusted members of Empress Wu Zeitan’s court, are accompanying her to the Lotus Falls Village, nestled above the crags – describe the Empress’ entourage, with its many caravans, picking its way up to the village.
You wait patiently, as the oxen moo, and the villagers assemble, as beautiful Wu Zeitan reappears in her resplendent yellow dress.
Introduce Chun Wu, who says this reminds him of a time with the second Emperor, when his new suit was made in a village not unlike this one. The dress was beautiful, but it didn’t fit, and the Emperor had the tailor exiled – imagine that? Just because his Majesty had put a little weight on at the tea house!
The Tailor, Immaculate Needle, comes out to applause – and before the Empress can speak, flourishes his needle – and he says “I hope it fits – as tight as you like” and the Empress spins around and vanishes, as his entourage turn from loyal servants to eunuch sorcerers, and the villagers turn to smoky demons – and one of the Oxen transforms into mighty Laughing Bao!
Foe Initiatives
The Tailor (only appears for 1d6 frames)
13
Laughing Bao
9 / 11 / 8
Quiet Viper
12 / 8 / 10
Eunuch Sorcerers (mooks)
6 / 7 / 9
Smoke Demons (mooks)
9 / 7 / 9
3 players – Laughing Bao + 8 sorcerers + 8 smoke demons
4 players – LB, QV, 6 sorcerers + 6 demons
5 players – LB, QV, 10 sorcerers + 10 demons
After the smoke clears, there is no sign of the Empress – she has been kidnapped! The lotus blossom sorcerers lie wounded, and can only say that she’s been taken away to another time! Skill checks can locate the thin yellow threads that she has left, leading into the mountains.
Scene 2 – The Caves of the Netherworld
The tracks lead up to the mountains – until they come to a sinister cave. As they approach, it is clear there are more smoke demons here – and the tell-tale lurch of hopping vampires are nearby! Around a steaming, smoky waterfall, with vampires around, they must battle a mooks-only fight!
Foe Initiatives
Smoke Demons
10 / 9 / 9
Hopping Vampires
6 / 11 / 6
3 players – 10 smoke demons, 10 hopping vampires
4 players – 10 smoke demons, 10 hopping vampires
5 players – 12 smoke demons, 12 hopping vampires
After the battle, they can enter the caves. Gory paintings show hordes of monsters, traps, and a mighty dragon! Beware, for Endless Smoke dwells here. Helpful smoke demons may also share this vital plot hook.
Run a 13th-Age style montage through the caves, ending with a huge, smoky cave where Endless Smoke resides. They must try to convince him to help them – this is a skill challenge requiring 4 successes before 3 failures with Difficulty of 10 (Endless Smoke is surprisingly helpful!)
Scene 3 – Hong Kong, Dec 31st 1999
The caves emerge in a bustling, busy modern world – and they can see yellow threads leading to a huge ship anchored in the bay – they need to race across town to find it!
Jennifer Weng appears – she’s just finished her shift, but can see that the players are up to something, and will obviously agree to help – she’s waiting for a chance to be a hero!
Have each player describe a hilarious out-of-time encounter their player has as they try to make it across the bustling city.
On the bridge, not only are there cops and the lotus eaters, but also hired goons with guns who The Millenium Bug has brought in to make sure it goes without a hitch. With the clock at 4 minutes to midnight, battle begins!
3 players – Irresistible Needle, The Beetle, Furious Gao, 9 mobsters
4 players – Irresistible Needle, The Beetle, Furious Gao, 6 mobsters, 6 sorcerers
5 players – Irresistible Needle, The Beetle, Furious Gao, a reincarnated Laughing Gao, 5 sorcerers, 10 mobsters
Foe Initiative
Irresistible Needle
13 / 10 / 9
The Beetle
12 / 10 / 9
Furious Gao
12 / 8 / 8
Laughing Bao
8 / 10 / 8
Mobsters
7 / 9 / 10
Sorcerers
6 / 10 / 6
With the Irresistible Needle defeated, they can briefly celebrate in Hong Kong before returning triumphant!