Little Asia NPCs
The Court of the Silver Censer
Yemon Saburo
Rank: Commander of the Court
Family: none
Faction: Fist of Nippon
Nature/Demeanor: Leader/Jobsworth
P’o: The Artist
Life: Hatamoto
Death: Slain in Imperial Rebellion
Regret: Failed to Complete Duties
Apparent Age: 35 Real Age: 171 Deaths: 1864
Attributes: Strength 4 (mighty), Dexterity 4 (sharp), Stamina 5 (resilient), Charisma 3, Manipulation 3, Appearance 2, Perception 3, Intelligence 3, Wits 4 (pragmatic)
Abilities: Alertness 4 (ambushes), Athletics 2, Awareness 2, Dodge 4 (duck), Empathy 1, Intimidation 4 (angry glare), Poetic Expression 2, Subterfuge 1; Etiquette 1, Firearms 2, Leadership 3, Meditation 1, Melee 5 (sword), Ride 2, Stealth 2, Weaponsmithy 1; Chi’n Ta Lore 1, Cosmology 3, Enigmas 1, Investigation 2, Jade Kingdom Lore 3, Kuei-jin Lore 1, Law 1, Linguistics (japanese) 1, Medicine 1, Occult 3, Politics 2
Arcanoi: Argos 4, Embody 2, Fatalism 2, Moliate 4, Lifeweb 3, Outrage 5, Way of the Merchant 2, Way of the Farmer 2, Way of the Scholar 3, Way of the Soul 5
Basic Abilities: Argos: Orienteering, Tempestpeek; Embody: Maintain the Material Form; Lifeweb: Locate Fetter; Outrage: Jump; Way of the Soul: Negotiation
Backgrounds: Allies 4, Artifacts 6 (imperial badge, white jade katana), Contacts 1, Eilodon 3, Fist of Nippon Status 4, Haunt 4, Magisterial Office 4, Money 2, Old Soul 3, Relic 4 (percussion rifle)
Passions: Visit Other Deadlands (curiosity) 2, Uphold the Code of Bushido (honor) 4, Strengthen the Sundead's Influence (pride) 4
Fetters: Family Crest (4), Frogcrotch Arrowhead (4), Imperial Banner (2)
Angst: 7
Dark Passions: Strike Those Who Disobey (outrage) 4, Torture/Intimidate non-Japanese (arrogance) 3, Vapidly Explore the Tempest (carelessness) 2
Thorns: Dark Allies, Shadowed Face, Shadow Strength +3
Corpus: 9
Willpower: 9
Merits/Flaws: Superstitious
Image: Yemon is still clad in the armor of the hatamoto. A well-muscled soldier, this samurai’s stoic veneer and unwavering courage leads his men by example. Just below the collar lies the death-mark, where the arrow took his life. His traditional appearance and behavior never falters, save for very occasional rage tolerated by his comrades: it is common behavior of all samurai, particularly dead ones.
Roleplaying Hints: Be calm yet hot, ready for action at all times. Battle is your life. You are always ready. Ignore barbaric disrespect when you can, since this is a land of barbarians. But never tolerate it from those who should know better. Yet in spite of your embattled outlook on the afterlife, you are also keenly aware of the dangers within. You have become a veritable master of the self, setting a prime example for all samurai.
Background: Saburo was struck down defending his shogun, an arrow through the throat. He was Reaped in the Yin World and heralded a hero despite the fall of the shogunate. He and his comrades avoided the agents of the Jade Kingdom for years until a strong rebellion could be made. He participated in the battle that destroyed Oda completely, and was one of the founding members of the Fist of Nippon. Years later, he has risen in rank, and seeks to expand the Fist’s influence beyond Japan. New alliances must be made, and he’s willing to pave the way safely. That is why he is in Little Asia, the leading ghost in that district.
Sato E
Rank: Financier
Family: none
Faction: Freewraith
Nature/Demeanor: Bureaucrat/Visionary
P’o: The Leech
Life: Produce Merchant
Death: Cardiac Arrest
Regret: Failed to Become a True Magnate
Apparent Age: 45 Real Age: 93 Death: 1951
Attributes: Strength 2, Dexterity 3, Stamina 2, Charisma 2, Manipulation 5 (shrewd), Appearance 2, Perception 3, Intelligence 4 (analytical), Wits 3
Abilities: Alertness 1, Awareness 2, Dodge 2, Empathy 2, Intimidation 2, Oral Expression 1, Streetwise 2, Subterfuge 4 (little white lies); Cosmology 2, Etiquette 2, Firearms 2, Meditation 2, Security 1, Sculpting 2, Stealth 1; Academics 2 (history), Business 3 (produce), Finance 3 (deals), Investigation 1, Law 1, Linguistics (japanese) 1, Metaphysics 1, Occult 2 (ghosts), Politics 2 (rebellions), Wraith Lore 3 (shadowlands)
Arcanoi: Lifeweb 2, Way of the Artisan 3, Way of the Farmer 2, Way of the Merchant 5, Way of the Scholar 4
Basic Abilities: Lifeweb: Locate Fetter; Way of the Artisan: Hear Jade’s Tale; Way of the Merchant: Jingle Jingle; Way of the Scholar: Studious Nature
Backgrounds: Contacts 3, Eilodon 2, Haunt 3, Magisterial Office 3, Money 4, Old Soul 2, Relics 2 (abacus)
Passions: Create a Financial Legacy in the Underworld (generosity) 4, Inspire the Quick to Worship Ancestors (concern) 3, Amass Monies for Little Asia’s Restless (devotion) 3
Fetters: Cash Till (4), Mercantile License (3)
Angst: 6
Dark Passions: Steal Cash For Self (greed) 4, Leech Off Soldiers (fear) 3
Thorns: Dark Allies (3 pt), Shadow Call, Trick of the Light
Corpus: 10
Willpower: 8
Merits/Flaws: none
Image: Sato E appears to be a portly, out-of-shape middle-aged Japanese man with a trim mustache and graying hair. He typically wears an out-of-date, 40s-style business suit, and does his best to appear suave and urbane. However, where his appearance falls flat, his gently persuasive voice, pleasant attitude, and sharp expressionism gets him his way almost every time.
Roleplaying Hints: Stay cool and calculative, as that is your profession and duty even in death. Even your Shadow can’t spurn you into violence, and there are other ghosts more than willing to fight wicked spirits -- to protect you even, if need-be. You consider yourself something of a patriot, and make up for your earlier lack of courage (when you fled Japan’s Shadowlands so many decades ago) by faithfully serving the Fist of Nippon-dominated Court. You aren’t real interested in the politics though, since you know that ultimately your services will be appreciated and needed regardless of who’s in power.
Background: When World War II ended, Japan was on the brink of economic collapse. E was one of the few merchants who could still prosper, because his goods were always needed: he bought food from farmers and sold them in the markets. He was wise enough to save and invest enough money over the course of the war that he didn’t need the Americans’ charity. He could have risen to become a wealthy corporate magnate had tragedy not struck. E was not the healthiest of men. He sold a great deal of sugar products among other foods, and enjoyed his share of sugar as well. That unhealthy, fattening diet no doubt precipitated his heart attack before the age of fifty, dying in his humble Kobe home. He was Reaped into a world of the dead that had it even harder off than the Quick. The Japanese rebels had been beaten badly and Chinese imperialists stalked the necropoli in search of more trouble-makers. E did his best to cooperate and get along, demonstrating his natural affinity for the Merchant’s Way and serving the Restless of Kobe until he saw a means of leaving the oppressed Shadowlands of Japan for America. He had the last surviving member of his mortal family take his last ties with her to America, where she settled into Little Asia of Kansas City and would eventually die. Now his belongings collect dust in a spacious attic where he also convenes to do business with his most trusted associates. This is also his ghostly home, where he relaxes and contemplates how he can become a successful person even in the afterlife.
The House of Yizhi
Ting An
Status: House Leader
Team: none
Family: Yi
Nature/Demeanor: Loner/Cavalier
Apparent Age: 40 Real Age: 45
Attributes: Strength 4 (corded), Dexterity 5 (flowing), Stamina 5 (enduring), Charisma 2, Manipulation 2, Appearance 1, Perception 3, Intelligence 3, Wits 4 (combat nerves)
Abilities: Alertness 4 (crowds), Athletics 4 (jumping), Dodge 5 (duck), Empathy 1, Intimidation 4 (kiai), Leadership 1, Misdirection 3, Streetwise 3, Subterfuge 1, Throwing 4 (shuriken); Blind-Fighting 4 (multiple opponents), Drive 2, Etiquette 1, Fast-Draw 4 (sword), Firearms 3, Martial Arts 5 (chi-channeling), Mechanic 1, Meditation 4 (focus), Melee 5 (swords), Scribing 1, Security 2, Stealth 4 (stalking), Survival 3; Chi’n Ta Lore 2, Hengeyokai Lore 2, Hsien Lore 1, Kindred Lore 2, Kuei-jin Lore 2, Linguistics (cantonese, putonghua) 2, Medicine 2, Military Science 3, Occult 4 (vampires), Spirit Lore 1
Qiao: Qiao of the Feng 4, Qiao of the I Shen 5, Qiao of the Long Ling 1, Qiao of the Meng 2, Qiao of the Mo Kung 5, Qiao of the Shi 5, Qiao of the Yu An 3, Qiao of the Zhu Mao 2
Backgrounds: Contacts 3, Favors 2, Jade Talisman 3 (red), Magic Artifact 2 (sorcerous blade), Reputation 4, Resources 1
Virtues: Conscience 3, Self-Control 5, Courage 5
Humanity: 6
Willpower: 10
P’o (unusable): 2
Merits/Flaws: Light Sleeper
Image: Ting An appears to be a well-muscled, middle-aged Chinese man still in tip-top physical condition. He is not a large man, but commands a sort of quiet reverence with just his renowned presence. Scars lacing his face are testament to his life of constant conflict. Ting typically wears cotton trousers, sneakers, and a tank top. Occasionally, a tattered leather jacket covers this much. He always has his broad sword strapped to his back; damn human law! He openly avoids public sight anyway, keeping to the shadows even when among his fellow hunters or his shen charge.
Roleplaying Hints: Though you prefer to lurk unnoticed, and speak only when it’s appropriate, you have tempered your young grief and fanaticism with older gentility and civility that makes you almost a prized example of your kind to the minds of the shen. They can think whatever they want so long as they know you will kick their ass if they step out of line. Period.
Background: A little less than forty years ago, Ting An was witness to the unwholesome murder of his parents in their Changchun home, located in the northern Jilin province. They had done nothing that An was aware of, and the attackers were clearly monsters that sucked their blood out. So heady in their blood lust were they that An was able to slip out and run away, where his screams and wails caught the attention of Wu Bei, the famous Manchurian Shih huntress. She took him in, heard his story, and hunted down the vampires responsible. She brought three pairs of fangs back to young An for him to hold as trophies and memories, and then offered to teach him the way of righteous wrath, not angry vengeance. These were lessons An took to heart and learned well, as well as all the skills, techniques, and secrets of the Shih. His training took fifteen years, and when he was ready, he was nothing but a hardened warrior. Bei gifted An with her broad sword, Kan’emo, and went on her own way. An was left to his own road that crossed over much of China. He knew nothing else and desired nothing more. His first hunts were resounding successes, and many demons have died by An’s sword or bare hands since. Years later, Ting An observed the beginning of the Kuei-jin’s Great Step Outward. He decided to follow, those old vampire’s fangs resting in his pocket…an unresolved past. When the shen in Little Asia came together, Ting An decided this could be good for the young Shih who had also followed to band together more or less. Although he prefers to wander in a cross-country circuit, he keeps an eye on his brethren in Little Asia.
