xialin showdown

[csyphrett]

I'm getting ready to start a campaign based on this. Has anyone looked at it for a setting?
CES

[Funksaw]

It should be simple to model; Wuxia base powers for the heroes, gadgeteer powers for the villian, and the Shen-gon-wu are just big ol' OAF's with Independent. The Showdowns are a combination "Teleport Usable On Others, Area of Effect (to represent that non-participants cannot interfere in a Showdown, and a Change Environment.)

In short, it's doable.

[csyphrett]

I was kind of wondering if anybody had any experience with it, FS. I have a mail game starting up, and the player is a fan. I don't want to let her down by blowing the easy stuff.
CES

[Michael Hopcroft]

The four protagonists of the series represent four of the five classical Chinese elements; Water, Wind, Earth and Fire. An experienced "Xiaolin Dragon" gets attacks based on their element and powered by their Chi.

One could have a great deal of fun statting out Shen Gong Wu powers, or even inventing some of their own. The one thing to keep in mind is that even the most trivial or useless of powers can be devastating in creative hands.

One other thing to remember is that many of the enemies of the Xiaolin Dragons are master manipulators. Wuya may be a disembodied spirit with a permanent case of PMS, but she can be quite clever at manipulating people. And Chase Yung, the near-immortal Master of Evil who joins the game later on, is a terrifying combination of intelligence, resourcefulness, combat prowess, and sorcerous power. Plus he can turn himself into a super-strong, super-tough lizard-man. encounters with him need to be memorable, with the players coming out of it thinking they were that close to a TPK and just got out by the skin of their teeth.

[DEFCON Clown]

Make sure to check out the Wikipedia page for Xiaolin Showdown, it has an insane amount of information. It lists every shen gong wu in the series and what it does if it was used in the show.

[Cancer]

I've got a game, more or less based on this, for my kids, age 9 & 11. That's sort of the flavor, though the characters are anthropomorphic animals rather than humans. In that way it draws on several Saturday Morning Cartoons, though Xiaolin SHowdown is the most identifiable. It's a HERO starter campaign, really, with some of the X.S. background kept more for familiarity's sake than a real foundation for the campaign.

[csyphrett]

Thanks for the information Mike and Defcon. Right now, I don't know if I am using any of the villains from the show. Pandababa or the fat ninja are the ones that are speaking to me.

I might use an older Katnappi.

Right now it's just in the planning stages for one person. If I get more players, I might expand out.

Cancer, what did use in your campaign?
CES

[Cancer]

Sort of the overall flavor. Characters are novice monks of a sort-of-East Asian variety. Most of the powers work through a modified END reserve which I label "Chi", which is recharged via the Meditation skill. Magic items exist, with loose connections to classical elements. Most combat is martial arts; there's no gunpowder in the world. Evil sorcerors have been mentioned but they haven't see any.

So far the campaign hasn't advanced far enough for any rivals or enemies to manifest. The PCs are still in the first of the Seven Schools.

[csyphrett]

Thanks Cancer.
CES/

[Badger]

I've watched a few episodes here and there. But, didnt Wuya get a body eventually. I seem to remember an episode where she wasnt a spirit. :straight:

[csyphrett]

I've watched a few episodes here and there. But, didnt Wuya get a body eventually. I seem to remember an episode where she wasnt a spirit. :straight:

The one I have seen is the one where the reversing mirror and serpent's tail is used to give her back her body and magic powers.

Desolidification+transform to opposite effect= solid ghost.
CES

[Michael Hopcroft]

The one I have seen is the one where the reversing mirror and serpent's tail is used to give her back her body and magic powers.

Desolidification+transform to opposite effect= solid ghost.


Later she was able to achieve a more permanent transformation, which was not without its inconveniences (having to take care of a body and its, er, biological functions was something she was out of practice with).

[CrosshairCollie]

Later she was able to achieve a more permanent transformation, which was not without its inconveniences (having to take care of a body and its, er, biological functions was something she was out of practice with).


She was also without the vast majority of her magical powers (which she *did* have when Raimundo turned her human with the Serpent's Tail and Reversing Mirror).

I was considering this at one point, though I was going to have the Showdowns be more combative than competitive. For example, in the first episode, Omi and Jack had a race across several-stories-high stone pillars; in my case, it would likely have been a fight atop those pillars.

[Funksaw]

Is this an online game? I would play this.

[csyphrett]

Is this an online game? I would play this.

I am probably going to use a mail list, FS. I might throw some other stuff in the setting. I'm kind of in the feel around stages of things, the part where you try to figure out what enemies can exist, how they affect things.
CES

[Michael Hopcroft]

I was considering this at one point, though I was going to have the Showdowns be more combative than competitive. For example, in the first episode, Omi and Jack had a race across several-stories-high stone pillars; in my case, it would likely have been a fight atop those pillars.

The "competitive" nature of the Showdowns is actually one of the things I would like about such a campaign -- a showdown is never "Last one to die wins" and it gives potential PCs and NPCs alike a chance to use a large number of skills they otherwise wouldn't -- and provides a powerful incentive to create well-rounded characters with a lot of different abilities and quirks besides being martial artists.

[McCoy]

I'm getting ready to start a campaign based on this. Has anyone looked at it for a setting?
CES
I haven't done anything with this, but I have thought about it.

As others have mentioned, the Wu would be independent, OAF, and incantation (name of Wu must be spoken to activate). The GM should design all the Wu, and they should be useful but not unbalancing, I'm thinking 10 to 30 Active points. (Naturally there will be exceptions, like Serpent's Tail or Golden Tiger Claws, which will take more points).

A Xiaolin Showdown can be declaired when two characters are fighting for possession of a Wu. When one character pickes up a Wu, if an opposing character can execute a grab maneuver before the first character's next phase, they may challenge to a showdown rather that the STR vs STR roll.

[CrosshairCollie]

The "competitive" nature of the Showdowns is actually one of the things I would like about such a campaign -- a showdown is never "Last one to die wins" and it gives potential PCs and NPCs alike a chance to use a large number of skills they otherwise wouldn't -- and provides a powerful incentive to create well-rounded characters with a lot of different abilities and quirks besides being martial artists.


True, though I'd install the safeguards in the showdown where nobody dies (when after the Golden Tiger Claws, Jack looked like he fell into a lava pool). On the other hand, the fights are more ... interactive, shall I say? I think I'd have a hard time being entertaining describing the Kung Fu Follow The Leader Showdown between Omi and Chase Young, which essentially was a series of Acrobatics checks while calling out various stances and attacks ("Grasshopper doing the dogpaddle? Now I know they're making this up." "Nope, it's right here in black and white, right next to 'Spider doing the hokey-pokey'.")

It doesn't have to be either-or, for that matter. Whoever calls the Showdown sets the rules, after all. It might be interesting watching someone who's looking down a Wu at someone who he knows completely outclasses him in fighting style trying to come up with a nonviolent Showdown. :)

[csyphrett]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm not too worried about building the exact same wu from the show or the nature of the Showdowns since I don't know if I will be using Hero. Where I am stuck is an original opening to get started.

Since I only have one player, there's no team so I don't have to worry about monks, Dashi, or some of the associated background elements.

CES

[csyphrett]

Liz and I decided to just freeform this game.

The list is created at yahoogroups.

The description of her character and an NPC are:

Name: Jade Lee (also known as The Tiger Lady)

Basic Description: Chinese American,Long Black hair with Red streaks,Bright Green eyes,almost alway wears beautiful Bright color kimonos with a tiger on it,also wears 3 inch long clawlike nails.

Background:Comes form a will known Mob family(I will let you pick the name of the mob family)she is the granddaughter of the Mob Boss,and started her training as soon as she could walk so she is one for the familys best fighter,and one day she will take over the family business.

Skills (ten things you are good at) Intimidation, Finance,Leadership, Martial Arts,Martial Arts Weapons,Natural Weapens,Politics Stealth,Steetwise,

One special move:Deadly Tiger Claw Strike,(She is very deadly with any Martial Arts Weapons But like to give her killing blow with her claw like nails if needed,But she will not kill unless she has to.)

Name Jonny Woo

basic description: Chinese American, brown hair/eyes, usually wears clothes to blend into crowds. Usually carries two 9mm pistols on his person.

background: Former soldier who became a mercenary hitman for several criminal groups, and bounty hunter.

skills (ten things you are good at): Driving, stealth, electronics, locks, parachuting, unarmed combat, piloting, wilderness survival, climbing, streetwise.

He can drive and pilot most small vehicles, sneak in pass guards, disable most locks, even electronic ones, is good with his hands but not steven seigal, can live in hostile environments, such as mountains and forests, knows people who will hire him to do a job illegal or not.

One special move: Chow Yun Fat's Gunslinging : The character can use any firearm with deadly accuracy, even using a pistol in both hands as he moves around.

[csyphrett]

Ghost Template
Name
Type human/animal/monster/combo
rage
special moves
appearance

Sample Ghost
Name: Song Wing Chun
Type: Human
Rage: Not his home/time
Special Moves: power wave/burn knuckle/wind slap
Appearance: Chinese man with que, dressed in cotton shirt, pants, slippers.
(Jet Li in Fearless)

[csyphrett]

NPCS
1) Edgar Gaddy: Ghostbuster/ weird scientist

2) Ghost King: master of ghosts and ectoplasm

3) Bob Lee: Jade Lee's dad who runs the local Chinese Mafia

4) Mario Gambini: Bob Lee's Italian counterpart

5) Detective Roy Clemmons: Anti gang detective

6) Jonny Woo: Hired gun

7) Uncle Henry: master of feng shui and geomancy

8) Song Wing Chun: Ghost of the Teahouse

9) Runt: Giant Basset Hound

10) Yuskaba: Headless Swordsman Ghost

CES

[csyphrett]

Edgar Gaddy has devoted his life to studying the unusual and Fortean. He has developed means to track and quantify the things that live beyond science. His outlook has never the less made him considered a quack by his colleagues in the scientific community. Still he pereveres in the hopes of finding something he can use to further his own studies into the strange.

Gaddy is a small, bespectacled man usually dressed in a lab coat.

His mission at the moment is to hire someone to test his new ghostbusting equipment. The trends lead him to expect the rise of some unknown force leading to a thousand years of darkness. He wants an investigator that will help stem the tide.

The Ghost King is Gaddy's opposite. He knows how to use the supernatural to his own ends. That means making himself a profit in some way. He has gathered material to make his own ghosts even if he can't control what they will look and act like.
CES

[csyphrett]

Page 1
Jade Lee, daughter of Song Lo Lee, heir to Wang Chi Lee's criminal organization, was surrounded by bodyguards as she entered the Southern Triangle tea house that her family owned and operated. She saw the staff clear the family booths so she could eat in privacy, a wall of meat surrounding her.

Her long nails glittered under the lights as she walked, kimono catching the breeze from an air conditioner.

Her sharp eyes caught sight of Jonny Woo, a former retainer. He ate by himself in a corner booth, eyes covering the room. She knew he had fast hands and could shoot better than most if he had to do it.

His booth was a little to the left of her path as she walked toward the back of the tea house.

Jade held up a hand to stop the men at her side and said,"Wait here. I would like to see how our guest is doing." Then she smiled and walked over to Johnny Woo's table and said, "Good evening Mr. Woo. Are you enjoy our great food and service here? And if I may ask what brings you here?"

"I'm waiting to meet someone, Miss Lee," said Mr. Woo. "You're welcome to sit with me if your goons will permit it."

Jade's smile got bigger as she looked over to her men and nodded to a chair. One of her men moved over to the chair and pulled it out so she could sit down and then stepped back and stood near to guard over her as she said, "Why thank you Mr Woo. I would love to. Would you care to share some wine with me?" Then she looked over to her men and said, "Please have Ma-lin bring me a bottle of red wine with two glasses. So Mr. Woo, how has life been treating you lately?"

"Making a living," said Woo, one hand on chopsticks, the other beneath the table. "There's always someone who needs something to be done. How's the princess life?"

The waiter returned with a bottle and two glasses. He popped the cork and poured some into each of the tall glasses.

Jade picked up her glass of wine and swirled it around in front of her nose and smelt it before taking a sip to see if it is to her liking. Once the sweet berry taste hit her tongue, she smiled and looked and nodded at the waiter and said, "Thank you Ma-lin, you may go for now. I will send for you when I am ready to eat."

Once he was gone, Jade sat her glass of wine down and looks into it sadly as she said, "You know Mr. Woo, your lack of trust hurts my feelings." She looked into his eyes as she said, "There is no need for your hand to be on your gun. After all, aren't we all friends here? So please relax and enjoy your food and my company. Now as for as you say my "princess life", everything is just fine. I have been keeping busy as well. After all, there is always someone or something that needs to be taken care of, and that is what I do best, but you already know that don't you, Mr.Woo?"

With that last said, Jade picks up her wine glass again and took a drink.

[csyphrett]

The Southern Triangle Teahouse was built on an existing house about fifty years ago. The outer structure is used as a traditional restaurant, with a covered deck built where the roof on the original house used to be. The remains of the original house at the core of the restaurant is used as an office, and drop off point for the various types of contraband the Lees smuggle into the country, and the indentured servants who must pay off their debts before they become Americans.

The Southern Triangle acts as a field headquarters for Bob Lee's men before, during, and after an operation. They meet there to plan a job, to regroup if the job goes bad, and to split the proceeds. No robbery or other criminal deed is done without Lee's tacit approval.

The teahouse is under watch by the police gang unit, but without evidence there isn't much they can do to stop the Chinese mafia from doing what they have to do.

[McCoy]

As others have mentioned, the Wu would be independent, OAF, and incantation (name of Wu must be spoken to activate). The GM should design all the Wu, and they should be useful but not unbalancing, I'm thinking 10 to 30 Active points.
I finally am getting around to stating out some of the simpler Shen Gong Wu, posting them here for anyone who wants them.

Adjust active points as you need, I presumed a silver-age level of violence, not a lot of character death, and a Human Maximun STR of 25. Greatly depended on the Wikipedia article as a reference, most of the notes are taken from there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Shen_Gong_Wu_revealed_in_Season_One

Shen Gong Wu , all slots Independent (-2), OIF Unbreakable (-1/2), Gestures (-1/4), Incantations (-1/4)

2 1) Helmet of Jong: Increased Arc Of Perception (360 Degrees) with Sight Group (10 Active Points) [Notes: The Helmet of Jong is a helmet that gives the wearer eyes in the back of their head while also allowing them to keep the ones in front, thus giving them all-round vision.]

5 2) Mantis Flip Coin: Acrobatics 17- (19 Active Points) [Notes: The Mantis Flip Coin is a coin with a square hole in the middle which resembles a Chinese coin that allows the user to do high jumps and flips]

6 3) Lotus Twister: Stretching 5" (25 Active Points) [Notes: The Lotus Twister is a flower that can turn the user's limbs as flexible as rubber. ]

6 4) Falcon's Eye: (Total: 27 Active Cost, 6 Real Cost) N-Ray Perception (Sight Group) (10 Active Points) (Real Cost: 2) plus +11 versus Range Modifier for Sight Group (17 Active Points) (Real Cost: 4) [Notes: The Falcon's Eye is a monocle that allows the wearer to see through objects, use telescopic vision, or see in the dark. It can be held at the eye or be worn. ]

5 5) Tongue of Saiping: Universal Translator 17- (26 Active Points); Custom Modifier (Non-human animals only; -1) [Notes: The Tongue of Saiping is a plate with a tongue that allows the user to talk to and understand animals. However, it does not allow the user to command the animals. ]

7 6) Shroud of Shadows: Invisibility to Sight Group , No Fringe (30 Active Points) [Notes: The Shroud of Shadows is a black invisibility cloak. It changes color to blend in with its environment, rendering the user completely invisible.]

7 7) Two-Ton Tunic: (Total: 31 Active Cost, 7 Real Cost) Armor (7 PD/7 ED) (21 Active Points) (Real Cost: 5) plus Knockback Resistance -5" (10 Active Points) (Real Cost: 2) [Notes: The Two-Ton Tunic can block all sorts of attacks, but as the name implies, it's very heavy.]

7 8) Third-Arm Sash: (Total: 35 Active Cost, 7 Real Cost) Extra Limb (1) (5 Active Points) (Real Cost: 1) plus +10 DEX (30 Active Points); Custom Modifier (only for OCV on block, disarm, and grab maneuvers. ; -1) (Real Cost: 15) [Notes: The Third-Arm Sash is a waist sash that functions as a third arm and does things at the user's wish.]

7 9) Fist of Tebigong: (Total: 35 Active Cost, 7 Real Cost) Naked Modifier, Area Of Effect Nonselective (up to One Hex; +1/4) (4 Active Points) (Real Cost: 4) plus Hand-To-Hand Attack +3d6, Area Of Effect Nonselective (One Hex; +1/4) (19 Active Points); Hand-To-Hand Attack (-1/2) (Real Cost: 4) plus Armor (4 PD/4 ED) (12 Active Points); Requires A DEX Roll (-1) (Real Cost: 2) [Notes: The Fist of Tebigong is a metal gauntlet that is strong enough to crack the earth. It can also function as a shield of sorts. Can be very effective with a shockwave maneuver..]

8 10) Jetbootsu: (Total: 36 Active Cost, 8 Real Cost) Flight 9" (18 Active Points) (Real Cost: 4) plus Clinging (35 STR) (18 Active Points) (Real Cost: 4) [Notes: The Jetbootsu are shoes that allow the wearer to defy gravity, which would therefore allow them to fly, float, and walk on walls and ceilings.]

10 11) The Longi Kite : Flight 20" (40 Active Points) [Notes: The Longi Kite is a kite that looks like a dragon that allows the wearer to fly with the wings of a dragon. ]

7 12) Tangle Web Comb: Entangle 3d6, 3 DEF, Takes No Damage From Attacks All Attacks (+1/2) (45 Active Points); Requires An EGO Roll (-1), Side Effects (-1) [Notes: The Tangle Web Comb is a comb that shoots out a strong load of hair from the teeth and binds the target. It is a Shen Gong Wu that requires absolute focus, or else the strings will bind the holder.]

[CrosshairCollie]

Looks nice. :)

[csyphrett]

Looks good to me too, mac.
CES

[csyphrett]

Page 2-

"I trust you fine," said Woo, working the chopsticks. "It's bad manners to have your free hand on the table."

A chill swept over Jade, freezing her breath in the air. The wine glasses were frosted where they stood.

"Sure if you say so," said Jade. Then she jumped up out of her seat and looked around, trying to find who, or what, just caused the chill as she said, "What the hell is going on here?"

Jade's bodyguards crowded around her smaller body, gorillas in suits looking for trouble. The other patrons noticed the chill, asking the waiters what was going on.

One man stood silently in the middle of the open air restaurant. His hair style and clothes harkened back to the old days of the old country. He looked around him, hands clenching and unclenching into fists.

Jade put a hand on one of her guards in front of her and said, "Move. Let me through." And he does as he is told even though he does not like it. Jade walked forward, her kimono flowing around her as she moved, and her nails gleamed as she swept her hand around as she looks at the gentleman standing there and asked, "What is the meaning of this...Who are you and why are you here?"

"You are not my beautiful wife," said the strange newcomer. "This is not my beautiful house. How did I get here?"

"No, I am not your wife and this is not your home. This is my family's Tea House and as for how you got here and who you are, that is what I would like to know," said Jade with a soft smile on her face.

"You built a tea house where I live," said the stranger. "You have no right to do that."

The bodyguards flanked Jade to prevent the newcomer from doing anything rash and getting them in trouble. Small streaks of white dotted the floor under the man's soft shoes.

"Look, I'm sorry that my family's Tea House is built where you used to live, but your home is not here anymore and I hate to break it to you and I'm not sure if you don't realize it yet, but you're dead. And this is not your home or land any more. So if there is anything I can do to help your soul to pass over, I will be more then happy to help," said Jade.

"This is not my beautiful house," said the ghost stranger.

Jade saw he was making some kind of move. It looked like a swing through empty air, but she could feel some kind of power building, and it was coming right at her hemmed in by her bodyguards like some hungry beast made of air.

[csyphrett]

Entry Three-
The ghosts created by the Ghost King are completely random. He summons the energy from the available protoplasm, selects a location to activate it, then watches the results.

An example is Song Wing Chun.

The Ghost King wants the Tea House cleared for his own reasons. He activated the protoplasm in the area, not really knowing what would appear to carry out his wishes.

Wing Chun appeared in the restaurant. Having lived on the site a hundred years ago, having a business built on his memories fed into the engrained rage placed when he was summoned. That combined with the wants of his summoner makes his job of clearing the building that much more desirable in his own mind.

His rage also allows him to use spirit abilities beyond the normal desolidfication and flight. This mental ability allows him to harm the normal world without being harmed by normal things.

[csyphrett]

Page 3-
Jade brought up her arms to block, bracing against the wooden floor. The wind reached her
protective human wall. The guards were blasted off their feet by the energy. She slid back on the
floor, but kept her feet.

The guards pulled pistols, regrouping from the blast as much as possible, aiming at the enraged
thing. Bullets passed through it, warping the image of Song Wing Chun without doing damage.
He glared at them.

"This is not my beautiful home," he said, bringing his fist down on the wooden floor. Boards began
to break apart around him from the blow.

Jade saw that some of the patrons, especially in the path around her had been hurt by the sudden
wind and flying furniture. A child cried in pain.

"Stop what you're doing," she demanded.

"You are not my beautiful wife," Wing Chun said.

"Just hold on for a minute," Jade said.

[csyphrett]

Entry Four-
Bob Lee is the typical Chinese American businessman who is also a mobster. He owns, or controls, a portion of the businesses that work in the borders of Chinatown. The ones that don't pay him a tax to prevent accidents.

Bob Lee also runs a major crime syndicate. He specializes in the drug trade, and slavery. People are smuggled out of China on the promise of a new life. First they have to pay back the huge amount they are charged for this chance.

Lee confines his interest to Chinatown herself. He has no interest in expanding outside of his small pond into the greater world beyond. He is not greedy, and is careful to avoid the various authorities who want to put him in jail, or deport him back home.

Of course others don't share Lee's feelings. They want to take over other organizations and make them part of the Lee Umbrella. So far no one has put such a plan into motion. Everyone agrees that Bob's daughter, Jade, would be the way to push him in the direction they want.

If she should happen to die, the new heir would probably be more compliant to their wants.

[csyphrett]

Entry Five-
Mario Gambelli is the head of a small organization of criminals affiliated with the local family. He wants to be next in line to the throne. To get in that place, he needs to earn a lot more money.

Mario sees Chinatown as a means to get the money he wants to enrich his war chest. The biggest obstacle to that is Bob Lee, the ruler of Chinatown. The mobster feels that he can undercut his competition until Lee is replaced.

If Mario keeps on the pressure, he hopes to run Lee out of business. He is not worried about any repercussions to his own business. His primary income comes from hijacking valuables. His and Lee's interests don't intersect except where he wants to expand his thievery.

The situation is not open warfare yet, but it might result in that. Mario has asked for more manpower in case he has to use violence against the Chinese Triad gangsters.

He hopes that he can keep things low key until he can wipe the whole branch of the Lee family away. Then he can step in and give any treatment he wants to anyone who can't fight back.

[csyphrett]

Page 4-

Jade rushed over to the child to see how bad he was hurt as she demanded, "Look what you have done! You must stop this at once before you kill someone!" Then she called to her guards, "Guards quickly get everyone out now!"

The bodyguards moved to carry out her orders. She could see that most of the crowd were already fleeing from the ice bringing thing.

The boy had a sliver of wood driven into his arm like a spear. Blood was everywhere. If he was older, if might not be life threatening, but she could see that he could die from such a wound.

"There shall be death," said the ghost, raising his hands. Energy built as he readied himself to unleash another blast.

Shots rang out, bullets marring the facade, making the ghost flicker as it turned to whomever threatened it.

Jade quickly looked around for one of her guards. She saw one so she called out, "Joe. Come quick. Take this child to the hospital now before he bleeds to death."

Then once the guard and the child were safely out of the way, she turned and faced the ghost and said, "Is this the way you really want to do things here? If so, then it is you who will die again."

She started to draw up energy around her.

Jade wanted to throw energy but all she had was her toughened nails. If bullets didn't work, there was little chance that her artificial claws would do much. She could keep it busy for a little while, maybe drain its energy fighting her.

This was her family's restaurant, the center of their criminal empire. They couldn't lose the building.

[csyphrett]

Entry 6-
This is a template and two examples of sheng gong wu in the setting.

Name:
Appearance:
Function:

Name: The Ghost Cauldron
Appearance: A black cauldron big enough to cook a ten pound turkey in. A white letter for kuei is on the side near the lip.
Function: The cauldron boils ectoplasm and releases it on a site to form a random ghost.

Name: The Trojan Horse
Appearance: A brass horse statue.
Function: The Trojan Horse transforms its user into a metal horse capable of running at great speeds, and armored against injury for the brief time its active. Typically its only active to carry the user to a spot determined when it is activated.

The Wu are always active. They only require someone to pick them up and use them. They are also finite in number. One record reported one hundred in existence but only six have ever been found at the moment.

[csyphrett]

Page 5-
Jade and the ghost stood in a cleared area in the middle of the upper deck. Her talons gleamed under the nearby street lights. She attacked, carving silvery light as she moved.

The ghost blocked, using a form of crane that she had never seen before. The other arm swooped in for an attack to her face.

Jade was able to block, and counterattack with a ripping blow to his body. He staggered back from the contact, flickering in shock.

Jade's long black hair and kimono flowed in the breezes around her as her long nails gleamed in the light as she quickly but gracefully moved around and attacked the ghost with a powerful tiger claw strike.

The claw strike met stiff fingers as Song Wing Chun spun, whirling his other arm in for a strike to an ear. She could see the hand glow as the edge descended. Jade blocked with her wrist.

The ghost still looked angry, perhaps even angrier than when she first saw it. The floor was covered with a thin sheet of ice by now.

Jade raked her long fingers through him again. He flickered on impact, falling back against the rail. He looked defeated.

"Are you ready to give up this fight," asked Jade as she stood ready to dodge and then attack again if he still wanted to fight.

"You are not my beautiful wife," said Wing Chun, spinning fast, chopping the floor. "Power Geyser!"

Blue energy picked up Jade and flung her the length of the upper deck as it ripped up the hard wood. Something caught her in midair before she hit anything on the way down.

Song Wing Chun faded away, glowering across the room.

[csyphrett]

Entry 7-
Other threats exist in the world of the Xiaolin Busters other than ghosts and mad magicians. Behind every legend is a core of truth. An example is the Raven, the spirit of revenge.

The Raven is known by the trail of destruction it leaves. Being dead has removed its sense of restraint. All that matters is meting out punishment to its chosen victims.

The Raven has no set face, or body. Instead it looks like a recent victim of some crime that led to murder. It then wanders the streets at night, looking for its prey. Typically this is a spree that may take as much as two days. Then it vanishes until something else calls it.

There is a split opinion on what the Raven is, what cause it to appear in the forms it takes. Some think it is an unknown Wu empowering victims to mete out their own form of justice. It fits except none of the known victims are buried in the same cemetary, or even buried opting for cremation. They held different jobs, different routines with perhaps one or two connections that people living in the same city might have.

The other opinion offered is the Raven is some kind of spirit that brings a person back as an undead creature. It is motivated by some unknown capriciouness that is satisfied by the amount of damage done by its avatars.

[csyphrett]

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Jade tried to turn and see what caught her as she asked, "What in the world just happened?"

"Looks like you just beat a ghost," said Jonny Woo, arms holding the Chinese Mafia princess up. "Congratulations."

Jade remembered the gun shots that seemed to distract her opponent. She knew Woo was a mercenary, and good shot. She hadn't seen him shooting in the melee.

The front of her kimono had been fried into strips, part of a wrist had blisters on it, and it felt like an eyebrow was gone.

At least she had weakened it before it had tried to kill her.

"Well, the ice is melting," said Woo. "Looks like it's gone."

"I thank you greatly for all the help Mr. Woo and great catch," said Jade, with a sweet but painful smile. Then she carefully moved out of his arms and started to look around at all the damage that the ghost cost her family and to see how many of her men were still okay.

The upper deck of the teahouse was splintered where Wing Chun had driven his hand into the floor. The tables and chairs were scattered, broken, or thrown over the side. The customers had been able to make it off the makeshift battlefield for the most part.

"See you later, princess," said Woo. "You might need to think about how you're beautifying the city."

The mercenary went to the railing surrounding the upper deck and dropped over the side.

Jade rushed over to the railing and looked over it as she said, "What the hell do you mean about that, Woo?"

The mercenary had apparently used the awning as a trampoline to reach the ground safely. He was nowhere in sight.

Jade saw several places he could have gone to in the short amount of time it had taken her to get across the roof. They were storefronts and narrow alleys between buildings, a rat's warren of connected passages.

[csyphrett]

Entry Eight-
Example template for a Raven:
Name:
Crime:
Responsible persons:

Name: Jeff Lee
Crime: Jeff was tortured and murdered in the hopes of provoking a confrontation between Bob Lee and his Italian counterparts.
Reponsible persons: Soong Kim, Akira Takahashi, Wei Chan, and Harvey Ching. These four are middle management in the various gangs inside Little China. They are protected by minions, and their businesses are fronted by legal enterprises in that part of town.

The Raven appears as Jeff Lee two days after he is declared missing. He will begin his assault on Kim, and work back to Ching, killing anyone in his way. If the four men confess, the Raven may let them live.

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Jade shook her head and then slowly turned around, taking in all the damage that was done because of the battle. After she took it all in, she dropped to her knees and then looked down at herself and finally started to feel the pain and how tired she was. Then she closed her eyes and laid her head in her hand and just sat there.

"Ma'am," said one of her bodyguards, cautiously coming up on the upper deck. "Everyone is out. Ambulances are coming for the injured."

Jade slowly looked up at her bodyguard with pain in her eyes and in her voice, and said, "That's good. I need you to quickly call Mr. Turner to come down and deal with this mess. Then please take me home before the cops get here. I don't think my father would like it if we were here when the cops get here, do you, Joe?"

"No, ma'am," said Joe. "That guy from the gang task force will be here too. Every time there's trouble."

"Then let's just get the hell out of here fast," said Jade, getting up and starting for the car quickly.

Joe led Jade down the stairs to the street. Her heavy limo rolled up as she stepped on the sidewalk. In the distance were the sirens coming to help with the disaster.

Jade quickly got in the limo and as soon as Joe got in and closed the door, she said, "Paul, we need to get out of here fast, so take me home!"

"Yes, Ma'am," said Paul.

The limo rolled through the neighborhood. Jade saw frightened people on the sidewalk looking at the vehicle, and the wrecked tea house. This was the first time her family had been challenged in such a public fashion in many years. Someone else would do something to take some perceived advantage.

After all if the Lees couldn't protect their headquarters, maybe they couldn't protect the rest of their operations.

"Joe, I need you to call our attorney, Mr. Turner now and get him and some of the boys down to the Tea House now. This is not good. We need to get this fixed and fast before someone comes along and starts to think we are weak and tries to make a move on us," said Jade as she laid her head on the back of the seat. Then she sat up and looked at her once beautiful kimono all ripped up and then sighed and said, "I loved this kimono. Grandfather gave it to me. Sigh."

She leaned over to one of the drawers and opened it and took out a blanket and covered herself and then lay back again.

"What are you going to tell your father?," asked Paul. "He'll be mad when he finds out."

[csyphrett]

Entry Nine-
The Squid,so named because of his love of exotic sea food and the strange coloring of his skin, gathers information in with his metaphoric tentacles and sells it to whomever he thinks it will benefit most.

The Squid operates at the edge of the Chinatown underworld. He keeps a lair near a fish market, and can be found in several of the local places that specialize in the cuinsine that he enjoys so much.

His loyalty cannot be bought. He sells whatever he gathers to anyone who can meet his price. Additionally he never uses what he gathers for blackmail. Once he knows a secret, he sells it.

Numerous people have tried to kill him at one time or the other. He goes underground for a bit, then goes back in business. When he does, he targets his enemies with anything he can find to use.

Some of the oldest crimes in the book have been solved because someone tried to kill the Squid.

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"I know he will be mad as hell, and I'm not really sure what I should tell him. I guess I could tell him the truth but he may not believe me if I do," said Jade as she sat there with her eyes closed.

"What's not to believe?," said Paul. "Ghost ripping up the tea house. Who wouldn't believe that?"

"No, you're right. I'm just tired and sore," said Jade.

The neighborhood narrowed down into a walled house taking up a block. The limo paused for the gate to open, then started down the concrete driveway. The house was ornate pagoda style all the way, a combination of brick and wood three stories tall. Guards littered the lawn, on watch.

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Once the limo stopped, Jade slowly got out and readied herself for some yelling she knew she would be hearing and headed inside the house.

"Miss Lee." The butler nodded carefully. "Your father has heard there was some trouble at the tea house. He wants to talk to you. He doesn't seem happy."

"Man, word travels fast, but yeah I already guessed that he would. Where is he?" said Jade.

"He is in the library." The Butler bowed, black uniform gleaming slightly under the house lights.

Bob Lee had built the library on the side of the mansion after buying it. He had stocked it with books he had read one after the other. It was his personal spot from which he ruled his criminal empire.

"Thank you, Shang." said Jade as she turned and headed for her father's library, even though she would rather go take a long hot bath and sleep for about a week. She knew she could not and that she had to take responsibility for what happened at the tea house. So she walked up to the door of the library and knocked.

"Come in." Bob's voice was deep as the ocean. It sounded calm, but that wasn't always a reliable sign.

Jade opened the door and walked in and bowed to her father and then closed the door as she said, "Hello, Father, I was told that you wanted to see me."

"Tell me of this trouble at the Tea House." Mr. Lee stood with his hands behind his back. "The police have already called. They want to speak to you since you were there."

"Well, it's a long story and I don't think the police will believe me. What happened is that I went to our tea house for lunch and I ran into Mr. Woo and we were talking when out of nowhere the air around me got very cool. Then a man, or I should say a ghost of a man, showed up and saw me and said, ‘You are not my beautiful wife.' Then he said, ‘This is not my beautiful house. How did I get here?' I told him I was not his wife and this was my family's tea house and that got him really mad. He said we had no right to build it where he lives and I told him that he does not live here anymore and that he is not alive any more. That is what did it. He got so mad that he attacked me and started to rip the tea house apart. I told my bodyguard to get everyone out while I tried to stop him, and as you can see he did a number on me. But in the end he left. That is about it, so if there isn't anything else right now father, I would like to go take a shower and get cleaned and patched up before I talk to the cops."

"This is an unexpected threat." Bob Lee looked down at the floor, with his heavy head. "I think you should deal with this. We can't run our business out of a place that can be attacked by some so-called ghost. Talk to the police, then start looking for a way to deal with this ghost."

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Jade Lee cleaned up, had time for sleep, then spent the next morning at the police station. It took them four hours to confirm her story. It probably would have taken all day, and the night too, if not for the family lawyer.

In the end, she had acted to save lives and had committed no crimes so they were forced to let her go.

Now all she had to do was find a ghostbuster.

After leaving the police station with a smile on her face, Jade got in her Jag and headed for the Temple to talk to the monks about her ghost.

The Buddhist temple shared a fence line with a Shinto shrine in the worst neighborhood in Chinatown. Orange clad monks moved about the walled area, while white and red shrine maidens completed their duties to the alter surrounded by a small forest of trees.

Sidewalk bordered the two lots, squeezing them together. Parking spaces were on the street and metered. One car already had a ticket.

Jade found a parking spot and parked her car then found some change in her cup holder for the meter, got out and fed the meter. Then she headed up to the temple to look for the head monk.

The orange clad monks bowed as she passed as they carried out their duties, cleaning and maintaining the temple and its small grounds. The wall that ran around the perimeter blocked off the forest next door.

The abbot Chan Su walked among the small amount of his brothers, talking to each one as he went.

He bowed to Jade slightly.

"What can I do for you, Miss Lee?" His face appeared calm and placid when he looked her in the eyes.

Jade smiled and bowed in return and said, "Good day, Master Su. I wanted to know if there is somewhere quieter we could talk about you maybe being able to help me with a ghost problem I am having at my family's Tea House."

"A ghost problem?" Master Su gestured to his office at the front of the main house. "One of your father's victims returned?"

"You know if you were any other man, I would have thought that you was being disrespectful to my father for that remark, but I know you are not. As for the ghost, no, he does not have anything to do with my father. He used to live in a house where our Tea House is now built," said Jade.

"I take it he doesn't want to talk." The abbot sat behind his desk. "Most spirits are tied to their old life."

"I already tried talking to him, but it did not work. He thought that our Tea House was his home and that I was his wife at first, but when I told him that he was mistaken on where he was and who I was, he got very angry and started to attack. I did my best to protect everyone in the Tea House and stop him. I managed to stop him for now but my father is worried he will come back. I need your help, if you can," said Jade.

"As you know, we can't interfere with a haunting." The abbot sat back in his chair. "It is possible one of the shrine maidens could help you. The head priestess should be there. I'm sure they have some means to combat ghosts.

"If not, I know some others who possibly could help you."

"Yes, I do know, and thank you for seeing me and all your help, now if you will excuse me, I guess I should go talk with the priestess," said Jade as she bowed, then turned and walked out. She headed back to her car to check on it, feed the meter some more, headed to the shrine in search of the high priestess.

Shrine maidens in heavy white shirts and loose red pants went about their duties cleaning and taking care of the small property and the shrine in the middle of the twisted trees.

The oldest maiden, ninety if a day, came forward. Interest lightened her thin, wrinkled face.

"What can I do for you, miss?" The voice was a buzzsaw.

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"Good afternoon," said Jade as she bowed, then she said, "I wanted to know if someone here can help me with a ghost problem I am having."

"We do have someone we can lend you." The high priestess looked around. "There she is."

The elderly woman walked over to where a young girl worked on trimming some bushes with a clipper. They spoke for a few moments. Then the high priestess came back.

"She has agreed to help you." The high priestess stood, hands behind her back. "Where is this ghost?"

"Thank you very much. Now as for the ghost, he is at my family's Tea House. I will be glad to take her over there as soon as she is ready," said Jade with a smile.

"Please be careful." The high priestess looked around. "We don't one of our maidens hurt."

"Do not worry. I'm sure there is no one at the Tea House right now so we should be alone, and if there is, I will send them away first before we get started. I will keep her as safe as I can," said Jade.

"Thank you." The high priestess half turned as the young dark haired maiden walked up the path with a bow and a quiver of arrows slung over her shoulder. "Kagome, this Jade Lee. Miss Lee, this is Kagome."

"Good afternoon, Kagome. I am very glad that you are willing to come and help me and my family with our ghost problem," said Jade with a grateful smile on her face.

"I will do the best I can." The young maiden adjusted her quiver and bow. "We should go."

"Yes, you are right. We should," said Jade. She bowed to the High Priestess and then turned and headed for her car. Once they are in the car, she headed for the Tea House.

Kagome rode along in the Jaguar silently. She nodded when she saw the two story restaurant. Tape was across the front with a closed for remodeling sign hanging from it. Pieces of the railing around the second floor eating area were gone, smashed aside by the ghost.

"It appeared on the second floor?" The shrine maiden concentrated on the building as Jade drove toward it.

"Yes it did," said Jade as she parked and turned off her car. She looked at Kagome and asked, "Are you ready?"

"Yes." Kagome pulled an arrow out of her quiver as she held her bow in front of her. "Please stay behind me."

She entered the building softly, notching the arrow so it was ready to shoot.

"Sure if that is what you want," said Jade as she followed Kagome inside the Tea House.

The shrine maiden made her way upstairs, frowning at the ripped up floor boards, the smashed furniture, and the broken railing.

"I sense two things." She looked around, bow at the ready.

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"What are you sensing?,"asked Jade as she carefully followed Kagome upstairs and looked around as well.

"Great anger." The shrine maiden advanced into the center of the eating area. "There is also some kind of power present in the building."

"Can you find the power?," asked Jade as she looked around and kept an eye out for the ghost.

"It's downstairs somewhere." The maiden pointed to the back of the restaurant.

The floor began to take on an icy appearance. Jade could see her breath floating in front of her and it was at least 75 and sunny.

"I think he's back. So I stay with you or go try and find the item of power?," asked Jade as she readied herself for another fight with this ghost.

"I don't think I can protect you if we separate." Kagome turned in a circle, frosty breath drifting in the air.

Ice congealed into the phantom across the dining room floor. Ice covered the floor around him. Kagome turned and released, arrow turning into a blue streak of light that ripped the air. The ghost was struck in the shoulder. Ectoplasm boiled from the arrow's burning touch.

His other hand swept across, sending cold air rolling toward both women.

Kagome leaped to one side, already reaching for another arrow as she got out of the minitornado's way.

Jade also jumped out of the way as she said to the ghost, "Damn it, can you please stop doing that and just leave my tea house alone."

"This is my house." The ghost slammed his hand against the ground. "Power Geyser."

The wave of blue energy swept Jade over the railing with the impact of a truck. She could see the ground coming up to meet her.

"Oh sxxx, this is going to hurt if I can't find something to grab hold," said Jade to herself as she tried to grab hold of something, anything, just to try and break some if not all of her fall.

Jade's hand slapped against the wooden face of the restaurant, hitting a small ledge.

Jade grabbed a hold on the ledge and looked around to see if there was a way to climb back up, or just get back into the tea house.

The ledge ran around the building, possibly to the front and back. It was only two inches wide and meant to be decorative. She could pull up to stand on the ledge and try and jump back up to the second floor. She could try to punch, or claw, through the wall.

Jade worked her way around to the nearest window and broke through it to rush back up to Kagome.

Jade found that Kagome had apparently stuck the ghost one more time, but had only been able to hold it off for the moment. The former resident looked washed out from the beating he had taken so far.

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"Is there anything I can do to help you, Kagome?," asked Jade.

"Keep clear." The spirit maiden fired her bow at the ghost.

The ghost faded away.

"Was that it, is he gone for good now?," asked Jade as she carefully started to move over to Kagome.

"I think he is recharging." Kagome checked her quiver. "We might have weakened him, but he is still lurking here in the restaurant. I can feel that much."

"How long do you think we have before he comes back?," asked Jade as she looked around. Then she asked, "Do you think we will have to quickly look for that thing of power you're feeling before he returned, and are you sure there is nothing I can do to help?"

"I don't know." Kagome looked worried. "Hopefully he won't be back before tomorrow night. Maybe whatever is in the basement is what attracted him."

"Then maybe we should head down there and try and find it real fast before the ghost comes back," said Jade. She turned and headed for the basement.

The spirit maiden followed. She pointed to a wall, joined to the concrete floor. Stacks of supplies filled the shelves. A rack of seasoning and various dry vegetables marked where she pointed.

"Okay I guess I better move everything while you keep watch just in case he comes back soon," said Jade as she started moving the seasoning and veggies out of her way as quickly as she could.

A few minutes later, and the rack was moved out of the way to reveal a brick wall and concrete floor.

Kagome pointed at a section of the wall near the floor.

"Thank you ladies for finding my prize." The strange voice came from the door behind the two women.

Jade quickly turned around to see who was there.

A tall man in a trenchcoat and hat stood by the stairs leading out of the basement. He held what looked like a black cauldron in his hand by metal handle. Something boiled in the cauldron.

Jade quickly moved in front of Kagome to protect her as she said, "Who the hell are you and what are you doing here? You are not allowed here."

"I'm afraid that you must give my regrets to your father." The hat and coat held up the cauldron. A huge bubble of slime burst in the air. Something floated in the air between them.

Kagome reached for an arrow.

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Jade stepped back and said, "What the hell is that and what is going on and for the last time who the hell are you?"

"I'm the Ghost King." The hat waved a hand. "This is the end for you two, I'm afraid."

Three suits of old fashioned samurai armor assembled themselves out of the floating blob. Their demon fighting masks moved as they howled for blood. One went for Jade, slicing with a fiery blade. One went for Kagome, slicing her before she could draw and shoot. The third leaped behind the fighting, grabbing something out of the wall.

With quick, yet graceful movements, Jade blocked the flurry of blows. And with those same quick and graceful movements, she attacked with her own powerful slashes and jabs of her claws and kicked at all three of the demon samurai trying to take them out as fast as she can to give Kagome time to recover and attack.

Jade drove the one facing her toward Kagome while she held the other two off to protect the spirit maiden. Kagome was able to wound one with an arrow, but the third gave whatever he recovered from the wall to the Ghost King.

"Kill them." The Ghost King turned to leave with his boiling cauldron.

"Damn it. We have to hurry and take care of these demons before the Ghost King gets away," said Jade as her claws came down hard on one of the demons.

the ghost warrior blocked the clawing, and tried for a kick to Jade's head.

Jade blocked the first punch and counterattacked with her own punch,

The animated protoplasm staggered back, off balance from the blow.

Kagome tried to banish the spirit she had already wounded by shooting it with another arrow. It ducked the missile and kicked her in the head. She flew backwards.

Then the third demon attacked, knocking Jade back with a kick to the gut.

Jade turned a little as she saw Kagome go flying back and got hit by the other attack, and tried to shake it off and attack the third one in return.

The third ghost warrior blocked her punch with his forearm. He spun and struck with the other forearm, driving Jade to her knees, almost stunned.

[Steelwolf]

Has this advanced any further? I am interested in any problems you may have encountered, as I am creating a game based on Pokemon. My sons are avid fans of the games, shows, movies and all else Pokemon.

Thanks for the info in the earlier messages. :)

[csyphrett]

Has this advanced any further? I am interested in any problems you may have encountered, as I am creating a game based on Pokemon. My sons are avid fans of the games, shows, movies and all else Pokemon.

Thanks for the info in the earlier messages. :)

I haven't run into any problems. Liz is a good player. She threw me when she went to the buddhist monks and shrine maidens, but that allowed me to define what shrine maidens can do (based on Inuyasha).

The main thing is the setting. Once you have that down, you can put in what you want.

Are you using an original Pokemon setting, or what's in the material?
CES

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Page 15-

Jade saw the three ghosts retreat to gather up their power to attack again. Their master had already ascended the stairs, headed for the street in front of the restaurant.

It was up to Jade to save herself and Kagome.

Not wanting to give the enough time to gain more power Jade moves up and dose a spinning jump kick to the ghosts and kept on attacking fast and hard until they go down and blocking or dodging whenever she needed to.

The kick missed the ducking third ghost.

He retaliated with punch that Jade blocked.

Then Jade clawed him to streamers.

Jade slashed at the next ghost with her claws and tried to block any attacks.

The two exchange some sparring blows. Kagome shot an arrow at the other ghost, making him retreat up the stairs. He leaped across the room and cut across her body with his phantom sword. The shrine maiden collapsed in a pool of blood.

Jade looked shocked and screamed, " NOOOOO!!!! Damn you all will pay for this." Rage came over her face as she looked over to the ghosts and jumped at them with quick powerful attack and not letting up until they are gone and tried to block their attacks.

The second ghost repulsed Jade, blocking then slicing her with his glowing sword. She fell down the stairs, blood welling from the slice in her body. She landed close to Kagome at the feet of the first soldier. Something, possibly one of Kagome's arrows poked her back where she lay on the floor.

Jade ground her teeth as she reached behind her and grabbed whatever is poking her, hoping it's one of Kagome's arrows. She got up and stabbed at the ghost with it.

The ghost slashed the arrow, then Jade with a flicker of his blade. Blood flew as the heiress went down again. This might be the end.

Knowing she could not take much more and could not give up, for if she did, they would both die. Jade fought through the pain and kept on the attack, and trying to dodge as their lives depended on it.

She shouted, "No. I will not give up!" more to herself then to them.

Jade was able to drive it back and blocked the next attack. But a kick drove her back against the dry rack, shaking the unfolded boxes and cartons of spices.

Jade began to spend like a top, slashing with her fingernails. She ripped the ghost apart, sending ectoplasm everywhere.

The third ghost waited for you to stop before he attacked. He's not charging into a demon blender.

She stopped and waited for the last ghost to attack to do it again once it is close enough.

He kicked Jade back against the rack raising his sword for the finishing blow. She tried to spin out of the way and behind him quickly to attack. He blocked the attack, going for a slash. Jade slashed with her fingers, ripping the ghost in two before he brought the sword down.

The basement was empty except for the wounded Kagome.

Jade quickly checked on Kagome to make sure she was still alive and called for help.

Kagome is out of it, bleeding badly. She needed to have the bleeding stopped somehow.

Jade tried to stop the bleeding, at least try to slow it down until help can get there before she went after the other ghost.

The bandaging made Kagome look like a mummy but it worked, using her clothes for bandages.

Jade ran up the stairs.

There was no sign of Song Wing, the original ghost, or the Ghost King.

Jade found a hoof print in the street, pointing to the left.

Jade went back do to Kagome and waited for help to arrive to send some of the guys to follow the tracks for her.

Minutes later, the "hatchet" men arrived and started doing their jobs as professionally as criminal scum can, cleaning up the blood, taking Kagome to the doctor, repairing what they can. They insisted that Jade go to a doctor also.

She will but just for a quick patch up.

They took Jade in for stitches, bandages, medicine, the whole bag. She was stuck for a few hours.

She told them to hurry it up. She has things to do and can't waste time with all this.

Despite Jade's urging, the doctor and her men took their time.

She waited until the majority was patched up and said, "Screw the rest." She got up to leave.

The bodyguards block the way, saying no, she has to stay until she was well, then not go anywhere without them again.

Her dad has passed the word down.

She looked at him and said, "Don't screw with me. Get the hell out of the way, or you will be the one that will need the doctor."

The leader of the eight body guards said, "Mr Lee has spoken. You stay no matter how long, then you go home."

"And my father gave me a job to do and I plan on getting it done so now move or I will and you know I can. So just make it easy on yourselves and do as I say. If you have the guts, then came with me and be quick about it. But not you, or anyone, will stop me from doing what I need to do."

She moved to the door.

"We can't let you go" The leader of the body guards blocked the door. "Your father said go home."

"Don't make me move you or hurt you because if you try and stop me I will hurt you. I will deal with my father after I am done."

The bodyguard zapped Jade with a taser from behind. Then they knocked Jade out.

Jade woke up in her room on the second floor of her house, locked in. Jade went to her window and checked it. It's nailed shut. She could see the bright heads of the nails buried in the wood.

She cut the glass with her nails to get out. The glass popped out easily enough. She quickly got dress and jumped out the window to the tree by her window and made her way by running and jumping from tree to tree, then to the wall and over. She kept out of sight and as quiet as she could.

It hurt but Jade easily made it over the wall but she had no money, car, phone, and anyone who knew her would report her to her father.

Jade did have everything she needed in a storage that nobody knew about. She had been putting money and things she might need in hiding just in case something ever happened to her, or her family.

She walked there, taking the back streets.

Jade made it to Far East Self Storage without being recognized, the spare key to the lock is where she hid it so she didn't have to break it open. All her supplies were there.

She took what she needed and left the rest and drove her Mustang out of the storage unit and locked up then headed back out to try and find the tracks herself.

Once she was on the road she called Johnny Woo.

Returning to the scene of the crime, Jade found that one hoof print. She tried to see if she could find more and where they led too.

Driving around, she found another hoofprint heading west. She kept on following it and call Mr Woo to see if he will help.

"Hello, Miss Lee. It's always a pleasure to hear from you."

"Hello Mr. Woo, I'm sorry but I'm just going to cut to the point.. I'm call you to see if you willing to help me out with a problem I am having without talking to my father."

"I am very expensive, and very discrete. Don't tell me you want to kill your father."

"No and don't even play that way."

"So what is the nature of your problem?"

"I need some help tracking down and taking of the ghost problem, and getting back what he took."

"It seems like you need a ghost expert. That's not me."

"Been there done that. I need the big guns now. I need your help."

"I'll call around. If you are avoiding your father, I suggest you stay out of China town until we know what's going on. Go to ground somewhere cheap. What's your phone number?"

"Fine. My number is 479-9623, and thanks."

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After a couple of hours of driving around, Jade's phone rang. She knew it had to be Jonny Woo, calling to say he had found an expert to help her.

Jade grabbed her cell and pushed talk and said, "Hello?"

"Miss Lee, I have secured an expert that can help us with information. If you will meet me at Buso University, we can visit him at his office on campus." Jonny Woo's voice paused, maybe to take a puff of a Marlboro. "His name is Gadd. I'll be looking out for you at the front office."

"Sure thing Mr. Woo I will be there in about 20 minutes. Oh and thank you, see you soon." Jade drove to the University.

The old BU was a set of buildings surrounding a hexagon courtyard in the center. The administration building faced the entrance street, brick and white shutters. Jonny Woo stood on the steps, dressed in his usual black suit and red tie.

Jade parked her car, got out of her car, and quickly looked around to make sure no one else was there then quickly walked over to Mr. Woo. She said, "Good evening Mr Woo, and thanks for waiting. I hope I didn't make you wait for long."

"No problem." Jonny pointed at one of the buildings across the campus. "Dr. Gadd's office is over in the science building. I called for an appointment. We should get there just in time."

"Then we better not be late," said Jade as she started walking to the science building.

The three story brick building could have been from anywhere. Plain windows formed rows from one end of the face to the other. Doors weren't on the front, they were on the sides.

Inside either end, a staircase led up to the other two floors. A sign posted room numbers and teach names for each. Gadd's room and office sat on the third floor according to the sign.

The empty room sat beside a wooden door with a pebbled glass front. It looked a little different than the other office doors on the floor that Jade saw.

Jonny Woo knocked on the door, waited for a come in, then entered the office.

Jade followed Mr. Woo into the room and walked over to Mr. Gadd and said, "Good evening, Mr. Gadd. Thank you for seeing us."

"Doctor." The small, almost bald man said. Round glasses made his eyes seem like little spots. "It's Doctor Gadd. What can I do for you? Mr. Woo wasn't really specific on the phone."

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"Sorry DR. Gadd, I need some help tracking down a ghost that attacked my family's Tea House It called itself the Ghost King and he took something that was hidden in my tea house and I would like to get it back and to restore the trust my father had in me," said Jade.

"The Ghost King." the little professor looked around his cluttered office. Tons of paper competed with arcane structures with no apparent use. "That's a name I haven't heard in a long time. So he took something from your tea house? Did you happen to see it?"

"So you know of this Ghost King then? Yes, like I said, but, no, I did not see what he took. I was too busy fighting for my life," said Jade.

"I've dealt with him a couple of times. nasty customer, especially with that pot of his." Dr. Gadd pulled out a drawing of the cauldron Jade had observed. "It calls up ectoplasm and the ectoplasm becomes something solid."

"Yeah, that's what he had, and yeah they do. I had to fight them. So will you help me Dr. Gadd?,"
said Jade.

"I don't see why not." Gadd put several devices in a bag. "My car is in the parking lot. We can look at your tea house and see if all the ghosts are gone. Maybe try to figure out what he took. I have some notes on some things."

The little guy smiled with his one tooth, and coke bottle glasses.

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"Great, you can follow me over there but first before we go, I need you, Mr Woo to head over there and make sure there is no one is there, please. We will not be far behind you. And if it is safe, then call my cell phone," said Jade.

"It will be my pleasure." The mercenary left with an adjustment of his fedora.

Jade received the all clear after she led Dr. Gadd in his own antique vehicle across town. The Tea House was silent as the grave as she approached.

Jade parked around back and led Dr.Gadd and Mr Woo into the Tea House as she said, "Come on, I will show you where it all happened, but we must hurry and be careful."

"No problem, young lady." Dr. Gadd pulled out a square device the size of a cell phone. He hit a switch and it started beeping angrily at him. "Your first ghost is still here. Pretty close too. I'll have to get my equipment from the car."

"Oh, just great. This is the last thing we need is to have him still here. Here let me help you get your things then," said Jade as she went with the Doctor to get his things.

Dr. Gadd pulled out a machine that looked like a giant fan hooked to a vacuum. He pulled the straps on, buckling the thing to his back. He staggered under the weight. He hung the detector on a hook and pulled on goggles that lit up when he pressed a switch on the side of the lens.

"Let's see if we can get your ghost." Dr. Gadd waddled back toward the tea house, turning the fan on as he went. The back pack seemed to pick up his step.

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Dr. Gadd led the way to the upper deck, his monitor beeping excitedly as he walked out on the wood floor. He pulled a vacuum hose off the side of his machine, starting the fan with a press of his thumb.

"He's close, real close." Dr. Gadd pulled the goggles down as he looked around.

Jade felt a chill in the air, her breath forming a fog in front of her.

"Yes, I know he is. I can feel him near by." Jade looked around.

"What are you doing in my beautiful house?" The ancient master appeared, frosting the floor with his presence.

Gadd aimed the vacuum at the ghost and pulled the trigger. The stream missed as the ghost jumped out of the way. It swept his hand down, hurling blue energy at the doctor. The little man headed for the balcony, flying toward the edge to the street below.

Jade quickly leapt over to keep him from falling over the balcony. She grabbed a leg to stop the doctor from falling to the street below.

"Pull me up! Pull me up!" Gadd's pockets started emptying because of the dangling.

Gunfire rocked the night as Jonny Woo shot into the ghost with pistols in both hands.

Jade quickly pulled Dr.Gadd up as she said, "Are you all right? Oh and next time please jump the other way away from the balcony."

"I was pushed if you don't mind." Dr. Gadd hit the switch on his equipment, reving the fan up. He pointed the hose end at the disturbed ghost. Jonny Woo caught another of those waves, sending him toward the stairs. The doctor pressed a button that turned on a light under the hose.

The flashlight beam hit the ghost, the fan started whining as Song slid toward the machine. He tried to pull away but was torn to shreds and vacuumed out of the air. The detector turned green.

"Oh, I am sorry. I did not know. So I'm guessing that means you got the ghost?," said Jade as she looked at the green light flashing on the machine.

"I'm sure of it." Dr. Gadd swept the detector around. "It looks like you're clean at the moment, young lady."

"That is great. Now let us move down to the cellar." Jade led the way downstairs.

"Right behind you, young lady." Dr. Gadd followed Jade to the stairs. They found Jonny Woo getting up from his rough landing from where he had been hit by the ghost wave.

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Jade rushed over and helped Jonny up. She asked, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Jonny reloaded. "So we're going into the basement? Why?"

Dr. Gadd let the fan push him along, holding the sensory instrument in front of him. It beeped a few times before turning green.

"It's clean down here also." He swept the flashlight around to look the place over.

"That is good. So what do we do now?," asked Jade.

"My job is done." Jonny Woo held out his hand. "Time to pay up."

"I'm going to put this ghost where it belongs." Dr. Gadd dropped the machine to the floor. "My work seems to be done also without the proper equipment."

"Oh, sure thing and thank you very much Mr. Woo, and Dr. Gadd. So how much do I owe you both for your help?," said Jade.

"Ten K." Jonny Woo brushed off his suit. "No checks, no credit."

"Ten K?" Dr. Gadd looked astounded.

"Sure thing Mr. Woo. But you know I don't carry that kind of money around with me. So I will have to give it to you when I get to my place. Okay? And as for you, Dr. Gadd, how much do I owe you?," asked Jade.

"Nothing." Dr. Gadd smiled. "Your restaurant should be ready to reopen anytime."

Jade smiled and bowed and said, "Thank you kindly, Dr. Gadd, but please at least come in when we reopen and be our honored guest."

"I will be glad to do that." Dr. Gadd waddled off with his vacuum cleaner.

"Are you sure you can pay?" Jonny Woo made a finger and thumb rubbing gesture. "I thought your dad had you on a short lease."

"Yes, I'm sure but it may take a little time because I don't have that kind of money just laying around, so you may need to wait for me to get all of the money. Don't worry I can give you what I have now and the rest later. Oh, and if I were you I would kindly watch what I say Mr. Woo," said Jade in a cold voice and with a hard look on her face.

"I say what I mean and mean what I say." Mr. Woo gestured for her to go ahead. "The job's done, and a deal is a deal."

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"And I mean what I said as well, I can give you what I have, and the rest later when I get it. Or if you like YOU can get the rest from my Father." Jade walked up the stairs to head back out.

"Makes no difference to me." Jonny Woo followed at a short distance. He had obviously seen her claws in action just as she had seen his quick draw with the hand guns he carried. "I'll be glad to talk to your father."

Jade heard slamming doors as she reached the top of the stairs.

Jade rushed over to see who or what slammed the door.

Her father's staff were coming out of their cars. They didn't look happy. They must be there looking for her.

Her father's staff were coming out of their cars. They didn't look happy. They must be there looking for her.

"Oh hell! Here comes my father's men." Jade turned and looked at Mr. Woo and said, "Well, here is you chance you can stay and get to talk to my father or you can go. It's up to you."

"I don't have a problem talking to him." Jonny Woo shrugged. "Will he cover my fee?"

"That's good then because you will have your chance real soon. And as for him paying you your asking price I don't know you will just have to find out yourself." Jade walked over to a chair and picked it back up on it legs to sit down to wait.

The men walked into the restaurant, then up to the dining room where Jonny and Jade waited patiently. They fanned out respectfully around the two.

"Please come with us, Miss Lee." The head guard gestured. "You were not supposed to leave the house."

"Sure, no problem. You know it sure did take you a long time to find me and get here," said Jade as she gracefully stood up and walked over to the head guard and stopped in front of him and softly rubbed his face and said, "Oh by the way, I finished my duty. The Tea House is now safe." Once that was said and she started to walk out of the room.

"Your father is sending you home to China, Miss Lee." The head guard gestured for some of the men to fall in behind Jade to separate her from Jonny Woo. "We're here to take you to the airport."

"Hold on." Jonny held up a hand. "She owes me money."

"Not our problem." The head guard waved for the men to start taking Jade downstairs.

"What? No, I will not go until I speak with my father first. I want him to tell me he no longer wants me here by his side. And if you know what is good for you, you will take me to him." Jade had a cold hard look on her face and in her voice.

"My orders are clear." The guards seized Jade. "Your bags, passport, tickets are in the car. You're flight leaves in an hour."

They started hustling her to the car.

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"Unhand me NOW," shouted Jade as she jerked away from the guard. Then she said, "I know you don't want a fight again so I will say it again. I want to talk to my father first. If you don't let me I will fight you all and I really don't want to do that."

"We have our orders." The head guard gestured for her to move on. "Your father wants you on the way back to China. Don't make this any harder than it has to be."

Jade jumped up into the air and did a double roundhouse kick, then landed and does a sweep around with her leg against the rest of the group.

Jade's move made the men jump back out of range. They fell into defensive positions, still surrounding her. She could see they didn't want to fight her, but was more scared of her father.

"Do not force the issue, Miss Lee." The head guard was also in a defensive position, at the back of the wall of men. "Once you are in China, I'm sure you will be able to call your father from the nunnery."

Jade looked at the head guard as she too is in a defensive position and said, "Going home to China, and I mean HOME, is one thing! But going to a Damn NUNNERY IS OUT OF THE QUESTION!"

Jonny Woo hit the head guard on the back of the head with the butt of his pistol.

"No one is going anywhere until I get my money." He pointed the pistol at the guards. "Don't make me shoot the girl. Back up and out of the way. Get in the car, Miss Lee."

He waited for someone to make a move.

Jade looked a bit shocked and said, "What in the world do you think you doing Mr. Woo?"

But she does listen to him and started to slowly move out to her car because she does not want her men hurt in that way.

"Everybody line up facing the wall." Woo gestured with his pistol. "That way everybody is busy while I go talk to Mr. Lee. Lean on it and hold the wall up."

He kept an eye on them as he descended to the passenger side of the car.

"You drive, Miss Lee." He got in the passenger seat, still covering the guards so they wouldn't do anything foolish.

Jade started the car and put it in drive and took off quickly as she said, "That was not a very smart thing to do, you know, but I am grateful for the help out of there, but you should know my father will not take this well."

"All I want is my money." The mercenary held the weapon on his lap. "Your father won't do anything as long I have you in harm's way. You're his only chink in his armor. I'll explain the situation and I will be paid."

Jade said, "My father is a good man and we may not always see things the same way. I'm not too sure if you will get your money, let alone be able to walk out after this." She drove to her home.

"Your father runs one of the most ruthless syndicates in business." Jonny Woo watched everything as they drove. "I doubt that qualifies him as being a good man. Even Hitler liked puppies."

Jade tried to stay calm as she said, "My father is still a good man in my eyes. He is good to his family and his friends, but yes, I know he is a bit ruthless to his enemies. And so am I at times so if I was you I would not ever... ever compare my father to Hitler."

"As long as he pays my money, he can be whomever you want him to be." Jonny Woo smiled. "If I were you, I would be thinking about what the inside of a nunnery looks like."

The gates to the Lee Mansion appeared and drew closer as Jade drove along.

The guards at the front gate raised their weapons to point at the car. It was clear they didn't know whether they should try and shoot, or let the car pass.

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Jade slowly drove up to the door, parked, and said, "I hope you are ready for this." Then she slowly got out of the car and started walking to the door. "Guys, please move out of the way. I really don't want any of you getting hurt."

The guards stepped out of the way silently. They held their weapons in plain view but no one pointed them at the two's direction. That could change at a moment's notice.

Lau, a retainer from Bob Lee's last days in Hong Kong, gestured for them to go to the library.

Bob did some of his more legal business from there.

Jade nodded her head in thanks and walked into the library.

Bob Lee stood behind his desk, his imposing bulk carried lightly in his customary Hawaiian shirt and cargo shorts. He didn't look like a dangerous crime lord.

"Daughter, why must you disobey me?" He sounded restrained. "And you bring this mercenary with you to defy me."

He shook his head.

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Jade rolled down her window and said, "Please. Just open the gate."

"You heard the lady." Jonny Woo made sure they knew he could shoot long before they killed him. "We're just here to talk to Mr. Lee."

The guards let them pass. They held their guns pointed at the car, but did nothing to prevent Jade from driving through to the house itself. More guards waited at the doors.

Jade slowly drove up to the door, parked, and said, "I hope you are ready for this." Then she slowly got out of the car and started walking to the door. "Guys, please move out of the way. I really don't want any of you getting hurt."

The guards stepped out of the way silently. They held their weapons in plain view but no one pointed them at the two's direction. That could change at a moment's notice.

Lau, a retainer from Bob Lee's last days in Hong Kong, gestured for them to go to the library.

Bob did some of his more legal business from there.

Jade nodded her head in thanks and walked into the library.

Bob Lee stood behind his desk, his imposing bulk carried lightly in his customary Hawaiian shirt and cargo shorts. He didn't look like a dangerous crime lord.

"Daughter, why must you disobey me?" He sounded restrained. "And you bring this mercenary with you to defy me."

He shook his head.

"You will obey me, daughter." Bob Lee slammed his fist on the desk hard enough to make it shake. "You will go to the nunnery and learn the proper manners of gentlewoman."

Jonny Woo lit up a cigarette.

"Otherwise I will have to make an example of you, and this mercenary."

"I will not go Father because you did not raise me to be a 'gentlewoman.' You raised me to be a fighter and to always get the job done no matter what it may cost. So that is what I did, I got the job done. And The Tea House is safe now from the ghost. And I am sorry for not listening to you, about staying in my room, but I did what had to be done for the family." Jade stood before her father.

"I raised you to take over for me and obey my wishes." Bob Lee glowered at the two of them. "If you cannot do that, you will embarrass me in front of my associates and my enemies. You will go home, and stay at the nunnery until you learn proper respect."

"I am very sorry that I disobeyed you, so fine. If you don't want me anymore then I will go home to grandfather, but I will not go to the nunnery because you know as well as I do they will try and change everything about me, and I will not and cannot have that. I have worked so hard to be the best for you and the family, please Father, don't make me go. I will do better..I'll make you proud of me again, just don't send me to the nunnery," begged Jade.

"I'll take the girl to the nunnery." Jonny Woo let the smoke drift around him like white doves. "First I want the ten k she already owes me, then ten more to take her back to China."

"What? Are you out of your mind? You can't do this." Jade had a shocked look on her face. Then she looked at her father to see what he had to say.

"Any daughter of mine will accept my authority." Bob Lee waved his hand. "You will get your money for working for Jade at the Tea House. After that, I don't want to see you."

He gestured for two of Jade's guards to come forward.

"Take my daughter to the airport."

"Fine, I will go," said Jade through clinched teeth and she nodded to her father quickly and turned away and started to walk out the door.

"Thanks, old man." Jonny Woo's voice preceded the sound of writing and tearing paper. "Nice working for you again."

The guards took Jade to a spare limo and allowed her to sit in the back as they drove towards the airport. Maybe a nunnery wouldn't be so bad. Still she had hours of flight time to plan what she was going to do when she reached Hong Kong.

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Jade heard the buzz tone of her phone in her bag as she rode in the back of the limo, surrounded by guards. Her father certainly wasn't calling after making a critical decision for her future as he did.

That left the mercenary, the abbot from the temple, and Dr. Gadd.

Wondering who could be calling her, Jade dug in her bag and grabbed her phone. "Hello."

"This is Dr. Gadd." the high pitched kid's voice bubbled over the phone. "I have those readings from your restaurant. They're extremely unique."

"Oh really, so tell me what does that mean?," asked Jade.

"Whatever the Ghost King took, it left behind a signature." Something clanked in the background. "If I had a strong enough detector, I could probably find it again if he carried it in public."

"That's good, but I can not help you right now if that is what you are wanting, because I am on my way to the airport. So if you need anything you will need to talk to my father, Dr.Gadd. Oh and if I may ask what is all the noise I keep hearing in the background?," said Jade.

"You can't go to the airport." Dr. Gadd seemed to be banging something with a wrench. "This could be bad for you personally."

"What? How will it be bad for me if I leave, which I have to my father does not want me here anymore. So what is it you want me to do?," snapped Jade.

"I have another signature on my equipment." Dr. Gadd's voice was suddenly clear of background noise. "I believe the ghost king will strike at that site."

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"And where will that be?, "asked Jade.

The address given was familiar. It's her former home.

"Oh crap. Thank you." She said to her driver and guard, "We need to go back to the house now! Father is in danger, Please take me back and after he is safe, I will go to the airport."

"You know we can't do that, Miss Lee." The driver didn't bother to turn around to look at her.

"Please! You have to take me back my father and everyone there is in great danger!," shouted Jade.

"We'll call." The driver gestured to his partner. "A warning should be all right."

The other bodyguard pulled out his cell phone and started dialing the main house.

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Jade was trapped in the back of a bulletproof limo with two men more afraid of her father than her. Even though they were calling the main house, that didn't mean anyone would believe them and take precautions. Still Jade had options that other people didn't have.

She could reach in front and take on the guards and take the limo. The guards would be afraid to hurt her seriously.

She could jump from the vehicle and try to get back to the house before there was any problems.

She could enjoy her ride out of the country and let her father deal with the problem as best he could without the access to the specialized knowledge that she had.

Jade will try and take the car so she moved up and punched the first guard really hard, hopefully knocking him out, then she will hit the driver.

The guard never saw the fist that knocked out his lights.

The driver looked over to see what was going on. He put on the brakes so the car wouldn't crash. He looked ready to try to defend himself from the boss's daughter.

Jade tried to knock him out as well.

The driver couldn't stop Jade's tiger claw. His head rebounded off the window. He looked down and out.

Jade quickly got out of the car and pulled the driver out and pushed the guard out of the car. She got in and took off for home.

Jade rolled through the city, spotting dark clouds over Chinatown. As she arrived at the gate to the mansion, she felt an iciness in the air.

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Jade quickly drove up to the house and once stopped, she jumped out of the car and ran up the steps and into the house.

She heard gunfire in her father's study, shouting toward the back of the house toward the dining area, and something exploding upstairs.

And somewhere a dog barked.

Jade quickly ran to her father's study.

One of the black garbed ghosts that had taken the ghost king's prize from her laughed as bullets punched through him, decorating the halls with holes. She could maybe drive him off with her special techniques but knew that was only temporary without Dr. Gadd's devices.