Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » The Land of Shimmering Fates [PM to join]

"Nothing is ever set in stone. Whether the die is cast, or kept tucked away, fate acts on its own accord. The whimsical mysticism of Daozen will soon be a forethought. The foolish legends of magic and Kung Fu will be nothing more than a telltale myth. The future will be powered by steam and ingenuity. Our people will no longer await a false heroes' even falser rescue. We are the heroes now, of today, and most certainly tomorrow."

The speakers replayed the speech overhead, blaring out from the steam-powered airship above. The sun's beaming crown was beginning its peak over the high rising mountains looming in the distance. Mao wished he was there now, or at the very least, wished his people were there. Instead, they were in the middle of Willful Wheat's town square, held at gun point by a sea of Republic soldiers. Husbands futilely shielded their families. Wives hushed their crying children with quivering lips. The defiant young, and there were many, to Mao's surprise, puffed their chests and glared back at the soldiers.

Among the sea of dirty khaki uniforms, spiked helmets, and gas masks, Isao the Fox yawned. He stuck out like a sore thumb with his straw duster hat and black leather armor with gold trimmings.

"I'll ask again." Isao said, not talking to anyone in particular. "Where's the dragon?"

Mao felt the desperate eyes of his people. His slumped posture and wrinkled look of defeat did not change. He wished he had courage like the village youth. Mao stared at Isao, who was busy flicking grime from his finger nails.

"It's not here." Mao quivered, falling to his knees in shame. "But...e-even if it were..."

The punctuated silence aggravated the captor. Isao spat, walking forward, eyeing each and every villager gathered into the circle, before focusing in on old Mao.

"How foolishly irresponsible. You'd risk the lives of innocent people for something that doesn't even care the slightest about you. All of you." Isao reached for the revolver in his holster and fancifully twirled it around. "We're trying to cleanse the plague, but you people would prefer to keep it spreading. No, no, that's not gonna work."

A loud bang made the villagers scream in fear. Mao slumped onto the ground as a pool of blood began to form around his crumpled body. Some of the village youth sprung towards Mao, but their elders held them back as the soldiers aimed machine guns with intent.

"I've got all morning, with plenty of bullets to spare. But come on folks! Let's not waste any more of each other's time, okay?" Isao grumbled, staring at his pocket watch before shoving it back into his trousers, gun randomly aimed at his next victim. "Where's the dragon?"




A lone merchant's boat drifts from the Lotus Port toward the western isles facing the ocean. It heads to a secret cove where the last line of defense will gather for a tournament only a select few know about. On board is the infamous Fist of the Lover's Quarrel, an oddly named martial arts couple, and Jing Wei, a large mandorilla, to name a few.

Lu Fau carried his wine gourd as if nursing a child, prancing around the deck. There were plenty of martial artists on board, but the giant mandorilla is what caught his attention the most.

"You there!" Lu Fau called out to the large creature, flicking a random insect from his silk red shirt. "What is your name, and what school do you hail from?"

Fire and iron had brought him here. Blood was sadly spilled too. That is the thing Jing Wei regrets the most, that a child had to die for him. He still remembers the scream as the little boy were pierced with the blade. Jing Wei would have done something, and that he had done, or atleast tried to do. He had held the attacker, and tried to talk with them, to see if their humanity were still intact, it were, they fell a single tear, and had a smile. For a second man had pulled a knife to his throat, so Jing Wei would have to comply to not die, so he wouldn't be able to bring goodness. And so he were traded from hands to hands, slightly gaining more freedom and less freedom.

Now he were on a boat, to where he don't know. The small boat were a bit crowded, though it were probably because of his size, added his weight making him ballast, so he stood in the middle of the boat. He were tallest among the people onboard, so he had a better view over where they were going. Jing Wei were enjoying the calming sight of the sea, when he heard a voice calling out in the crowd. "You there!". Jing Wei looked around, then down. It were a man holding a gourd, with his hands wrapped in bandage. "What is your name, and what school do you hail from?" He asked.

"I'm from the School of the Iron Palm, my name is Jing Wei, why do you ask?" Jing Wei replied.

“Oh!” Lu Fau’s eyes were filled with excitement. “Your palm strikes must be incredibly strong! Perhaps you have an equally strong grip?”

He extended the gourd out to the giant ape, pointing at the wide brimmed cork that kept its contents sealed.

“Do you think you’d be able to open this for me?” He grinned. “I’ll be sure to share, I promise! Eh, well only some of it, of course. I imagine it would take three of these babies to get someone like you going!”

"A drunkard I see..." He said under his breath, and took the gourd. The cork were a bit tight, though it was taken out with ease, but the content, oh the content. It were a potent baijiu, and it made Jing Wei wrinkle his nose at the mere smell. So bad memories lived in the drink.

"Here, I don't want any, I don't see this as a time for tomfoolery, maybe another time I will be more willing" He handed the gourd back to the man.

"I have told you my name, what school I'm from, I have opened your drink for you, may I ask the same things of you, except the drink. Also where are we?" He wanted to know.

Lu Fau licked his lips and rubbed his hands together as Jing Wei uncorked the bottle.

“Excellent! You do your school proud. I’ll celebrate for the both of us then.” He gladly took the gourd back.

Just as he was about to take a swig, the mandorilla began asking him questions.

“I’m Lu Fau, the Endless Gourd, the better half of the Fist of the Lover’s Quarrel! Cheers!” Lu Fau laughed, but before he had a chance to take his first drink, the gourd was snatched away from him.

“Hey!” He yelled. For a moment the gourd looked as though it were floating, but with a careful eye, one could see that a long shadowy rope had yanked it from Lu Fau’s grasp. No, it wasn’t a rope, it was a long thick strand of hair!

“Oh, man...” Lu Fau groaned.

“I can’t leave you alone for one second!” The strand of hair released the gourd into Pan Guiying’s hands, then instantly shortened to shoulder’s length, joining two more thick strands that coiled around like snakes. They collectively moved as if they had a mind of their own.“I told you not to open this until the tournament!”

Pan’s hazel brown eyes glared at Lu Fau, who hid behind Jing Wei like a scared child.

“I didn’t open it!” Lu Fau pointed to the mandorilla. “He did!”

The three thick strands of Pan’s hair lashed out to snatch Lu Fau from behind Jing Wei. Two of them grabbed his arms, the other one wrapped around his neck and mouth, muffling his complaints.

“Apologies. Jing Wei, was it?” Pan gave a courteous bow with palm and fist interlocked. “I’m Pan Guiying, an unfortunate soul cursed for having a decent heart. And to answer your question, we’re headed along a secret route to the Quiet Villa. I take it this is your first time traveling there?”

She politely smiled, showing grace and charm, but as Lu Fau muttered incoherently from his restraints, her hair drew him closer to her. Pan then shushed him with an elbow to the gut. He obliged.

"Well I haven't been there for some months, but I do them pround, so I have for over a hundred years" He said as the man took back his gourd.

So the man were named Lu Fau, neat. "You say that you are the better half of a duo, wh..." Before he could finish his sentence, the gourd were snatched from Lu Faus grip. Were spirits at bay? No, just a woman with long hair, that looked like living snakes. Hearing their banter, this might be the second half of their duo.

Jing Wei snickered as he were blamed, then used as a meatshield. "You got me, just doing the deed of making a man a bit more happy. Also I believe this is yours" He were pointing with three of his arms at Lu Fau behind him, who got pulled away by the womans hair.

"Yes, Jing Wei of the school of the Iron Palm" He said and bowed for Pan, while interlocking three fist into three palms. "So you are the partner to this man I see" He smiled a little.

"Yes this is my first time travelling here, as you just said, we are heading on a secret route to the Quite Villa. Just out of curiosity, what will happen when we arrive? Like will there be a some sort of greeting?" He asked and rubbed his chin.

Pan nodded in response to Jing Wei’s question. The strands of hair loosened around Lu Fau, who angrily flicked them out of the way.

“Quiet Villa...” Lu Fau said, clearing his throat. “Is said to be the place where all four golden masters fought with all of their might. Before the fame and glory, when they were just ambitious heroes looking to prove their skills. Man, what I’d pay to see that battle royale! Anyways, nobody was proclaimed a winner. It’s safe to assume that it ended in forfeit, and it has been a great debate among the four schools ever since.”

“It’s considered sacred ground...” Pan looked to Lu Fau, who was itching for his gourd back. She held it firmly in her hands as her hair whipped menacingly at him. “But never for a tournament. Though with how the world is these days...”

“Discretion is necessary.” Lu Fau finished her sentence. He suddenly grew disinterested with the drink. "Our world is getting eaten from the inside out..."

Pan cleared her throat, looking to change the subject, she smiled to Jing Wei and asked:

"So, have you entered in a tournament before?"

"No, I haven't, as my teacher, Gori, thought they were barbaric, and violent, while my other teacher Saboko, loved them. Though I have no ill sight on them, as long as no blood is shed. So I will be looking forward to this. I too have heard the stories of the golden masters ascends to legends, but to be able to stand were they once stood, would be phenominal. When do you think we will arrive?" Asked Jing Wei curiously, as he felt like they were standing there, awkwardly, forever.

( could I join please?)