Mongol Ninjas!

[GhostDancer]

Adventure / Character Seed

 

Shortly after he died, [Genghis] Khan’s surviving commanders ordered a group of 50 particularly battle-hardened families, collectively known as the Uryangqai of the Woods, to occupy this land [part of northern Mongolia’s Hentiy Province, an area known as the Ikh Khorig, which translates literally as the “great taboo” but is referred to by outsiders as the “Forbidden Zone”], kill any trespassers, making exceptions only for the funeral processions of the Khan’s direct descendants, who were allowed to be buried there. Unsurprisingly, this fierce degree of secrecy has led many to surmise that the body of Genghis Khan himself resides somewhere in this zone, along with some of the treasures of an empire vaster than those of Napoleon and Alexander the Great combined. When the Soviets took over Mongolia in 1924, they stamped out the Uryangqai of the Woods just as they tried to stamp out the subversive, nationalism-inspiring memory of the great Khan, maintaining a bubble around the Ikh Khorig, declaring it a highly classified military site. -Luke Dittrich for National Geographic

 

This leads to several questions. How did the Soviets smash the Uryangqai of the Woods? Explosives and/or treachery? Did they really kill them all? Historically, Mongolians are nomads that follow their flocks, moving five times a year or so. It may not have been possible to kill them all.

 

This could be the secret Background for a Pulp or Golden Age Asian martial arts master. For a modern game, this Background could be alleged, secret, public, or somewhere in between. Was he the original 9th Jebtsundamba Khutugtu (Holy Venerable Lord), a reincarnation, found in 1924, of the Bogd Khan (God Emperor), a Mongolian who disappeared from the pages of history? Did he help train Mongolian Olympic gold medal martial artists?

 

Albert Lin of Japan is using high tech gear to search for the secret tomb of Genghis Khan http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/2009/12/best-of-adventure/albert-lin

 

A Uryangquai of the Woods descendant, among others, would not care for this grave robbing mission. The descendant may feel compelled to try to stop it. News may reach our heroes, who may initially try to help the intrepid explorer, and then have to rethink their position, as the cultural relevance becomes clearer to them, especially if the descendant took care to kill no one.

 

The descendant could try to recruit more defenders for the Ikh Khorig region. He may not restrict recruitment to Mongol nationals. Most Mongols live outside the national boundary, and the number of those with some Mongol heritage is immense. He may be more interested in martial ability than pedigree- no Mongol ancestry may be necessary. The latter would be helpful for a player character build. For the sake of this discussion, let's call him Grand Master Owl.

 

Pilgrim, "Let me show you why I am worthy to be your student." A flurry of katas ensue.

 

Grand Master Owl, "What is the price you must pay?"

 

Pilgrim, "All that a teacher is due. Also, if I become one of your top students, I must guard the Ikh Khorig for a time equal to the time you intructed me."

 

Grand Master Owl, "Give an example."

 

Pilgrim, "If I advance to top student in twelve years, I must protect the Ikh Khorig for twelve years. If I never make top student, I do not have this obligation."

 

Grand Master Owl, "It is so."

[Ranxerox]

Re: Mongol Ninjas!

 

Cool! Any chance of us getting a write-up of a sample Mongolian ninja?

[GhostDancer]

Re: Mongol Ninjas!

 

Sure, happy to do so one fine day. Be very patient- I'm working a lot of 16 hour shifts. This will be a 5r Pulp Hero. Thank you for asking.

[GhostDancer]

Re: Mongol Ninjas!

 

Traditionally, many Mongols learned to ride nearly before they could walk. A toddler's saddle is made of rope, and includes a cinch tying the child's ankles together under the girth of the horse.

 

Mongol martial arts focussed on weapons, primarily the bow, simultaneously recurved and composite, more powerful than an English longbow, and more versatile, given that most were designed to use mounted.

 

Wrestling was primarily used as fitness training. Should your elbow, knee, forearm or lower leg hit the ground, you lost. There are still no weight classes. As such, an Offensive Strike would be an appropriate purchase as a

Finishing Move

.

 

Mongols were quick to adopt advance tech from cultures, including exploding arrowheads and seige machines.

 

In the 20th century, Mongols slowed Japanese invaders, fighting them off from horseback with rifles and grenades, until the Soviets could bring to bear heavy munitions.

 

The three manly sports of Mongolia are still archery, horse racing and wrestling. These would no doubt factor into Uryangquai of the Woods training, in addition to certain ninja type skills. U of W might use bows in addtion to rifles, since the former are harder to hear.

 

Some Mongol hunters today make their own bows, with multiple layers of fiberglass.

[GhostDancer]

Re: Mongol Ninjas!

 

The Mongol tribesmen were born into a society whose language did not have separate words for “soldier” and “man”.

 

Read more at Suite101: Mongol Warriors and the Composite Bow: Genghis Khan Used Archers To Spread the Mongol Invasion http://www.suite101.com/content/mongol-warriors-and-the-composite-bow-a84382#ixzz16XqzTjor

[GhostDancer]

Re: Mongol Ninjas!

 

"Russia has only been successfully invaded once, because it is warmer than Mongolia." -Dave Vandenabeele

[GhostDancer]

Re: Mongol Ninjas!

 

Cool! Any chance of us getting a write-up of a sample Mongolian ninja?

 

Upon reflection, they're more like Rangers than they are like Ninjas, maybe?

Uryangqai of the Woods

 

Player:

 

Val Char Cost

13 STR 3

14 DEX 12

13 CON 6

12 BODY 4

13 INT 3

11 EGO 2

15 PRE 5

10 COM 0

 

6 PD 3

6 ED 3

3 SPD 6

6 REC 0

26 END 0

26 STUN 0

 

6" RUN 0

2" SWIM 0

2 1/2" LEAP 0

Characteristics Cost: 47

 

 

Cost Martial Arts Maneuver

3 Defensive Shot: 1/2 Phase, -1 OCV, +2 DCV, Range +0, Strike

4 Choke Hold: 1/2 Phase, -2 OCV, +0 DCV, Grab One Limb; 2d6 NND

3 Martial Grab: 1/2 Phase, -1 OCV, -1 DCV, Grab Two Limbs, 23 STR for holding on

3 Martial Throw: 1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +1 DCV, 2 1/2d6 +v/5, Target Falls

4 Jink: 1/2 Phase, +0 OCV, +4 DCV, FMove, Dodge, Mounted Or On Foot

3 Weapon Element: Axes, Maces, Hammers, and Picks, Blades, Lances

Martial Arts Cost: 20

 

Cost Skill

2 Animal Handler 12-

3 Breakfall 12-

2 KS: Archery 11-

2 KS: Wrestling 11-

3 PS: Mending 12-

1 Language: Mandarin (basic conversation)

0 Language: Mongolian (idiomatic)

3 Paramedics 12-

2 Navigation 12-

3 Riding 12-

3 Stealth 12-

2 Survival: Steppes 12-

3 Tactics 12-

3 Teamwork 12-

3 Tracking 12-

2 Weaponsmith (Bows) 12-

0 Everyman Skill- KS: Mongol Culture 8-

2 WP: Classic Mongol Weapons

Skills Cost: 39

 

 

Cost Talent

4 Mounted Warrior (HTH Combat)

Talents Cost: 4

 

Cost Equipment (Equipment costs do not actually figure in Total Cost. They are included here for reference only.)

0 Brigandine Armor: 4 PD/4 ED, OIF

0 Small Shield: +1 DCV, 5 STR Min, OAF

0 Survival Kit: +1 with Climbing, Mending, Navigation, Paramedic and Survival, OAF

0 Lasso: Entangle 5d6, 5 DEF, Entangle and Character Both Take Damage, 1 Recoverable Charge, 6m Range

0 Small Axe: Killing Attack - Hand-To-Hand 1d6+1, 0 END, OAF, 8 STR Min

0 Scimitar: Killing Attack - Hand-To-Hand 1d6+1, 0 END, OAF, 12 STR Min

0 Lance: Killing Attack - Hand-To-Hand 1d6+1, 0 END, OAF, 12 STR Minimum, No STR Bonus

0 Medium Bow, 1d6+1K, STR Min 9, 16 Recoverable Charges, OAF, 2H, 350m Range

0 Heavy Bow, 1 1/2d6K, STR Min 10, 16 Recoverable Charges, OAF, 2H, 350m Range

0 Frog Crotch Arrows, 1d6K, 8 Recoverable Charges, OAF, 2H, 150m Range [Notes: Designed to cut lanyards, bowstrings, etc.]

0 Willow Leaf Arrows, 1d6K AP, 8 Recoverable Charges, OAF, 2H, 350m Range

0 Whistler Arrows: +15 PRE, Signals or Inspires Fear only plus 1d6K, 8 Recoverable Charges, OAF, 2H, 150m Range

0 Flaming Arrows: 1d6K, Sticky, Continuous, 8 Continuing Charges lasting 5 Minutes each, OAF, 2H, 225m Range

Total Character Cost: 110

 

Pts. Disadvantage

10 Distinctive Features: Mongol Warrior: (Concealable; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses)

20 Hunted by Shih (Chinese Knights): 8- (Mo Pow, NCI, Harshly Punish)

15 Reputation: Merciless Raider from the Steppes, 11- (Extreme)

10 Social Limitation: Subject to Orders (Frequently, Minor)

Disadvantage Points: 55

Base Points: 55

Experience Required: 0

Total Experience Available: 0

Experience Unspent: 0

[Ian Mackinder]

Re: Mongol Ninjas!

 

Upon reflection' date=' they're more like Rangers than they are like Ninjas, maybe?[/quote']

 

I am certain that, in one of the earlier-edition Hero system's Martial Arts books, a Chinese martial art called An Chi (? Nothing on Wiki OR Google) is listed - and claimed as one of the "ancestors" of Ninjitsu. An Chi was supposedly favoured by outdoor bandit-types and emphasized guerilla-style moves - concealment, surprise attacks, boobytraps and thrown weapons. Could be that I am mis-remembering the details from the book, but I doubt it.

[Ranxerox]

Re: Mongol Ninjas!

 

Cool write up

 

Did you consider giving them a archery based martial art? It seems like you could justify one in their case.

[GhostDancer]

Re: Mongol Ninjas!

 

I am certain that' date=' in one of the earlier-edition Hero system's Martial Arts books, a Chinese martial art called An Chi (? Nothing on Wiki OR Google) is listed - and claimed as one of the "ancestors" of Ninjitsu. An Chi was supposedly favoured by outdoor bandit-types and emphasized guerilla-style moves - concealment, surprise attacks, boobytraps and thrown weapons. Could be that I am mis-remembering the details from the book, but I doubt it.[/quote']

 

Spot on, though Lin Kui and such used this art, not Mongols. Renaming An Chi and using it as a basis for a Uryanquai of the Woods martial arts would work, though I'd restricted the ranged manuevers to javelins, arrows, and small axes for Mongols, not sharpened coins, thrown caltrops, throwing daggers, thrown sling-stones, etc.

[GhostDancer]

Re: Mongol Ninjas!

 

Cool write up

 

Did you consider giving them a archery based martial art? It seems like you could justify one in their case.

 

Right, see 'Defensive Shot and Mounted Combat.' The three national sports of Mongolia, even today, are Archery, Wrestling and Horse Racing. As such, the write-up here shows some of each. Some Uryangquai have 10+ points in Archery Manuevers, some have 10+ points in Wrestling Manuevers, and some have both!

[Ranxerox]

Re: Mongol Ninjas!

 

I was wondering about Defensive Shot. It sounded like an archery thing, but since bow wasn't listed as a weapon element I wasn't sure.

[GhostDancer]

Re: Mongol Ninjas!

 

I was wondering about Defensive Shot. It sounded like an archery thing' date=' but since bow wasn't listed as a weapon element I wasn't sure.[/quote']

 

Ah, good catch! Thank you.

[Lawnmower Boy]

Re: Mongol Ninjas!

 

As long as it's a realistic treatment of the Mongols.

 

 

Although Bortai looks ...a little off.

 

[LordGhee]

Re: Mongol Ninjas!

 

Russian commander to Commissar, Everytime we send in troop to that lake area they dissapear.

Arrow strikes next to Commissar

vast empty steppes surround

Commissar, of course this is a military zone it is death to enter, from here to the lake.

secound arrow impacts closer to commissar

Commissar, to the river past the lake.

vast steppes with wind noise

General, Yes sir, Military zone sorry I was not cleared.

 

 

 

Lord Ghee

[DusterBoy]

Re: Mongol Ninjas!

 

As long as it's a realistic treatment of the Mongols.

 

 

Although Bortai looks ...a little off.

 

 

So's Genghis Khan

 

[GhostDancer]

Re: Mongol Ninjas!

 

In the Liao and Mongol states in the 10th to 11th Centuries, a game was played called ‘Shooting the Willow’ to demonstrate archery skills. This is how the game was described in the official history of the Khitan Liao Dynasty: "Two lines of willow branches were set in the ground of a polo field. The archers, according to their different ranks, chose their own branch and marked it with a piece of cloth; then they whittled away the bark of the twig a few inches above the ground so that the white wood showed through. Led by one galloping rider, the others followed at full gallop, shooting with an unfletched arrow with a horizontal blade for an arrowhead. An archer who could cut through the willow branch and catch the cut end at full gallop took top marks. Second came the one who could cut the willow twig but couldn’t catch it. Those who could hit the whittled part but not cut it, or those who missed altogether, lost. When they shot, people beat drums to egg them on."

From the time of Chinggis Khan and the Mongolian nation proper, there are many accounts of great feats of archery, such as those of a national competition in which renowned archers such as Tsülegtii, Gölgön Baataar, Sübgetei Baataar, Toghtong Baataar and Khüldar all competed over a distance of about 600 meters, shooting at a cap of deer leather placed on the ground. All could hit the target with one of three shots.

[LordGhee]

Re: Mongol Ninjas!

 

In Ancient Rome on many tombstones of Aluxillri archers was the inscription "I shot an arrow into the air and shot it with a secound before it hit the ground". This was consider the the height of skill.

 

Lord Ghee

[Old Man]

Re: Mongol Ninjas!

 

To what degree are these claims corroborated by independent evidence?

[GhostDancer]

Re: Mongol Ninjas!

 

My last post was from Baabar's History of Mongolia.

 

An inscription on a stone stele was found near Nerchinsk in Siberia: "While Chinggis (Genghis) Khan was holding an assembly of Mongolian dignitaries, after his conquest of Sartaul (East Turkestan), Yesüngge (the son of Chinggis Khan's brother) shot a target at 335 alds (536 m)."

• Asian Traditional Archery Research Network
  

• ^ "CSEN Home Page". Center for the Study of Eurasian Nomads. http://www.csen.org. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
  
• ^ http://www.atarn.org/mongolian/mn_nat_arch/mn_nat_arch.htm | Mongolian National Archery by Munkhtsetseg
  
• ^ John C Halpin, Halpin C Halpin, Primer on Composite Materials Analysis, CRC Press, Apr 15, 1992, ISBN 0-87762-754-1
  
• ^ a b Archery Traditions of Asia. Stephen Selby. Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence, 2003. ISBN 962-7039-470
  

[GhostDancer]

Eaglehunters of Mongolia

 

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