Fantasy Core RPG: Jianghu Setting-Wong-Fei and Wong-Sim

Fantasy Core RPG

© Jerry Harris 2013

Published here as Open Game Content.

(This link will take you to the Fantasy Core Index.)

Jianghu Setting

Wong-Fei and Wong-Sim

 The perfectly delivered threat should sound like a quite reasonable business opportunity. 

Wong-Fei once worked for the Tongs as a teen, but had a severe falling out with them.  But he learned well from them.  It’s where he got the idea for uniting the rural gangs.  Wong-Fei claimed to have met an Immortal upon fleeing the city, who helped him start his gang out in the countryside.  (The untold part of the story is that the Immortal handed him the Ring of Intention, described below.) 

If you’re using the sample adventure as an entry to this setting, Wong-Fei is already dead.  His passing was unusually curious and the circumstances doubly so.  (You can make up your own details.)  There are many in the organization who would like his death investigated, but propriety is forbidding them from doing so.  Wong-Fei’s last words to his gang leaders were that, his son was now in charge and then he made them swear their allegiance to him.  “Do not trouble yourselves with my death, rather, continue my work.”  There are no end of suspects if Wong-Fei was indeed murdered.

He’s not the Old Man.

That’s about the nicest thing that is said of Wong-Sim.  He’s in way over his head and has no idea how to run an organization as large the Brotherhood.  If Wong-Fei anointing him was a test, Wong-Sim is about to fail.  (If it was punishment from beyond the grave, events are proceeding on schedule.)  Right now, Wong-Sim doesn’t trust anybody in the organization, even the people who want to help him.  He has entertained the notion of an alliance with the hated Tongs to bolster his position, which has only further alienated him.  Wong-Sim has also turned to hiring outside mercenaries (ahem, player characters) for personal security and other tasks.

 Here’s another one of those hard choices.  Wong-Sim’s fall from power will have a cascading effect of consequences.  The internecine gang warfare starts immediately as warlord territories become fiefdoms.  Villages under one bandit warlord’s protection will be attacked by another trying to quickly expand their territory.  The military will get involved as soon as the taxes and food stop flowing.  Under martial law, the Triads will move in and begin to sow discontent.  The revolt will start as quickly as possible as the Imperial troops will be spread thin across the province. 

 The White Lotus will not be able to stop it from starting and may even throw in with the Governor to try and keep the revolt from spreading (their national movement isn’t ready yet).  With their allies in the Kinsai ninjas and the White Tile Dojo students, the White Lotus’ has some serious weapons at their disposal.  Meanwhile over the border, news of the revolt has reached the Mongols and they have elected a new Khan.  He has sent emissaries into Tibet for a possible alliance. 

Ineffectual as he is at the moment, Wong-Sim’s leadership of the Brotherhood is the only thing preventing a larger blood bath.  Certainly finding the killer of Wong-Fei (or at least framing someone) might help solidify his position, if for no other reason than clearing Wong-Sim of the act.

Wong-Sim’s magic items are a legacy from his father.  They are minor items as Wong-Fei did not rule through personal combat.  Currently however, his most powerful item was stolen off of his dead body, the Ring of Intention, a ring of mind reading.  (Wearer never surprised, can read minds up to 50’ away, but must be concentrating.)  The ring’s powers are not generally known.  Wong-Sim is expending quite a bit of effort to find it.     

7th Level Thief, Hp 24, AC 14 (+1 leather)

Fort +2, Ref +7, Will +2

Melee: +1 Short Sword (Slitter) +6 to hit 1d6+2

Sneak Attack: Successful attack and Stealth rolls (DC 12), 8 dam

Surprise Attack: Successful attack and Stealth rolls (DC 12), 12 dam

Ranged: +1 Short Bow (Stinger) +7 to hit 1d6 

+5 Detection

+6 Stealth, Escape Artist, Acrobatics, Climb

½ or no damage from failed saves