Qin - Tianxia: Révolution au Palais

The session report you are reading is, in truth, the very first dusting-off of our Tianxia campaign. It was patiently waiting for me to finish the summaries of the previous sessions before I published it, and it is a joy to finally release it from my list of drafts. Perhaps a sign that the next ones will come more regularly? One can only hope. Be that as it may, the campaign finally begins with "Révolution au Palais", the first emotion-packed scenario of this epic that has marked the RPG careers of many a player. Session report.

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Following the loyalists' victory in the siege of Quzhi, our proud heroes bring proof of their success back to the Chanyu. Soldier Sun, for his part, meets with a slightly different fate: he has already been in Xianyang for some time, where he serves Lu Buwei as a guard. Destiny will soon reunite them all in the capital of Qin.

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Characters present

• Liu Mei Shan, merchant spy
• Sun Keng Wai, ambitious soldier
• Tian Zaisheng, Mohist noble
• Zhang Wu-Lin "Flocon de Neige", young Taoist

The session

Back in Yanshan, Liu Mei Shan, Tian Zaisheng and Zhang Wu-Lin attend the wedding of Xoa and Mok Shi Tung before preparing their journey to Xianyang. Just as they are about to leave, they find the easygoing Petit Profit again, apparently back in the city of Mok Shi Minh for the festivities. The honest merchant, having already visited a good part of the mountains of Zhao, was rather planning to return to Chu by way of Qin. It was therefore no surprise that the group joined Petit Profit's to make their way toward Xianyang, the capital of Qin, where the Bouchers de Quzhi had been cordially invited by the prime minister in person. The journey is hardly difficult: the plains of Qin are amply secured. Two months after triumphing at Quzhi, the group makes its entrance into the capital of the kingdom.

For his part, Sun Keng Wai had already been in Xianyang for some time. Having saved the life of the prime minister and of General Tchen Qi, he was invited to serve as a guard at the "Palais du Cheval" — Lu Buwei's palace. There, he was able to siphon off a few pieces of information: that is notably how he discovered that his protector was no longer quite in the good graces of the King and his inner circle, and that the Minister of Laws Li Si was coming up like a rising star, ready to eclipse the old merchant. Soldier Sun's life was becoming seriously too quiet when Lu Buwei announces that his friends, "the Bouchers de Quzhi", were on their way to the capital, but that he would unfortunately not be there to receive them.

Keng Wai takes the opportunity to welcome those who were, for a short while, his companions in misfortune. The heroes had barely set foot in the city when their reputation had already preceded them: an indiscreet scribe by the name of Jiang Lu intrudes on their conversation to ask them for an interview, so he can write their memoirs and immortalize their tale. Setting this honor aside for later, the group joins Lu Buwei's residence, where they are welcomed as heroes. Luxury quarters are prepared for them, and there they are, free to live like princes at the Prime Minister's expense. A few days later, the famous Jiang Lu comes to repeat his proposal at the Palais du Cheval. Having hardly anything better to do, the Bouchers de Quzhi accept the invitation. Once at his home, they begin to tell him their exploits: Liu Mei Shan explains the events they have lived through over the past year, starting with the rescue of Mok Shi Minh in Nao, up to their arrival in Yanshan, their involvement in the rescue of the Xiongnu princess Xoa and the assassination of the prince. Only at the end of her account do the Bouchers learn a troubling piece of news from the scribe's mouth: Quzhi has been entirely razed and all its inhabitants executed, contrary to the request the heroes had addressed to Lu Buwei. Bitter at this news, they wonder who could profit from this genocide, and how to set the record straight as far as they are concerned. Their suspicions naturally turn to the Minister of Laws, Lu Buwei's main rival. An outlook that hardly delights them. Gathered in a discreet inn in the merchant quarter, the now-famous "Bouchers de Quzhi" agree to look for information, without attempting anything concrete until the prime minister is back and has regained the confidence of the court.

For nearly 10 months, the heroes pretend to go about their daily business while discreetly gathering information. Sun Keng Wai tirelessly studies the art of command and military strategy, hoping to perhaps equal one day his illustrious ancestor, whom he regards with a certain disdain. Liu Mei Shan learns to wield a sword, while keeping a close watch on the docks quarter in search of a lead concerning the court. Accompanied by Guo Ts'ai-Ja, she plays certain merchant and worker contacts to obtain interesting information. Supposedly, Minister Li Si would not be directly involved in the Quzhi affair: rather, a man from the Qi delegation would have strangely worked toward putting all the city's inhabitants to death. Bao Du — for that is his name — lives at the far end of the noble quarter, and rumor lends him a suspicious, paranoid temperament.

In the noble quarter, Tian Zaisheng meets one of the famous Sacrés du Ciel. Keen on martial arts, the man, named Gongji, invites Tian to take part in a friendly tournament that brings together all the city's finest blades — all except Governor Chao Guang, who refuses to take part in such trifles. Tian will make a good impression there by pocketing second place, behind Coq Flamboyant, who is visibly no newcomer to victory. Out of regard for his talent, Gongji will agree to teach the Mohist one of his favorite martial techniques, which Zaisheng had already seen in action with Guo Ts'ai-Ja. After hearing about Bao Du, Tian Zaisheng uses his status as brother of the King of Qi to obtain an audience with the ambassador. Unfortunately for him, the said ambassador — a certain Xie Jeng — is in fact a kind of bad joke played by Qi on Qin. A gruff, rude, and constantly drunk general, known for having spent more time in Linzi's prisons than on the battlefield. Mind clouded, Jeng believes he is speaking with a prince of Qi and gives him all the information he can about his official Bao Du, but he does not seem to know much.

Finally, Flocon de Neige makes her Taoist fervor known around her, with the aim of attracting the attention of San Bai-Hu, the ambassador of Wei. Her attempts are crowned with success, since one evening, a man from the Wei delegation will bring her to him. He declares himself ready to act as a mentor in Flocon de Neige's studies, on condition that this solidarity between Taoists also earns him something: he would like to be kept informed of what is going on at court, all the more so as Flocon de Neige and the Bouchers de Quzhi are bound to play an important role there. The young Taoist accepts the deal and begins, a few weeks later, her studies of external alchemy under a master whose reputation is clearly well-earned.

One year after the victory at Quzhi, the Bouchers have settled into Xianyang. Only then does the real story begin...

Some rumors would have Lu Buwei on his way to Xianyang. The matter that had kept him away for so long seems to have been settled. Could this be a sign that the Bouchers' stay in the Palais du Cheval is coming to an end?
After yet another evening in the great Palais du Cheval, the heroes head back to their quarters. Suddenly, a few noises echo in the courtyard. Men, visibly armed to judge by the metallic sounds they carry, enter the first minister's residence. One of Lu Buwei's servants, frightened, hurries off to fetch the Bouchers de Quzhi and leads them into the courtyard. There, they catch sight of a handful of men clad in reinforced black armor bearing the effigies of Qin. Their equipment suggests the praetorian guard. But their presence is eclipsed by that of two men, evidently officials. The first seems young, no doubt around twenty. He is dressed in a refined and luxurious chang pao. The second must be some twenty years older: his rigid, stern face lets only few emotions show through.

At first glance, the heroes recognize in this second person the Minister of Laws Li Si. Unfortunately, they fail to identify the young man, with the exception of Wu-Lin, who bows as low as possible in greeting. Out of respect for etiquette, they all follow suit.

The young man speaks. He asks the heroes whether they are indeed the famous "Bouchers de Quzhi" he has heard so much about. Flocon de Neige answers him deferentially^[1], thereby revealing her interlocutor's identity: it is the King of Qin in person. Answering in the affirmative, the heroes are incongruously ordered to blindfold themselves, before being escorted by the guards to a luxurious pavilion. There, amiable servants inform them that the King and the Minister of Laws will soon join them, and that in the meantime, they are invited to enjoy everything on the premises. Liu Mei Shan renews her wardrobe by making off with a magnificent chang pao, in turn drawing Flocon de Neige into her coquettishness. Sun Keng Wai picks a handful of maidservants to keep him company while he delights in the banquet. Liu Mei Shan and Wu-Lin do much the same, while Tian Zaisheng watches them enjoy themselves with a smile. Everyone is having a good time. The hours pass, nobody comes.

Suddenly, the table tips over, effectively trapping Master Tian, Sun Keng Wai, and a maidservant. Five men had concealed themselves underneath and were visibly preparing a nasty move. Blades drawn, they try in vain to set upon the heroes. After one of them is wounded by Wu-Lin, they attempt to fall back. Zaisheng, fearing for the safety of the King and the Minister, does not let them and calls out to one of them. The assassin, clumsy, stumbles and sends his blade flying into a wall: Zaisheng uses the movement to cut his tendon. This unlooked-for fight suddenly ends on that note, as misplaced applause is heard.

Li Si and the King step out of the shadows. They had witnessed the scene. The King explains that he had to test them, to verify that they were indeed the heroes his regent had told him about. He then asks each of the Bouchers to tell him what, in their eyes, is the most important thing. He addresses Zaisheng first, who answers "harmony". He then turns to Mei Shan, whom he mistakes for Wu-Lin. While Lady Liu hesitates to correct His Majesty and point out his error, she meets Li Si's dark, disapproving look: the King never makes mistakes. Mei Shan then contents herself with answering the question. For her, the most precious thing is knowledge. Flocon de Neige chooses balance. Finally, Keng Wai answers him in turn: of every thing in the world, it is the future that he cherishes above all.

Finally putting an end to his theatrics, the King reveals what is closest to his heart: peace. He continues, declaring that he fully intends to spread it over the world, through the unification of the Zhongguo into a peaceful Empire where everyone will be able to live without fear of war. Admitting that he cannot accomplish this feat alone, he needs heroes — heroes such as the Bouchers de Quzhi. He therefore wishes to see them join the Censorate and work for Qin. At this point, it is obvious to the heroes that they cannot refuse, so they accept this "invitation" without conditions. Visibly satisfied, the King immediately brings them up to speed on their first mission. The Marquis of Changxin — the eunuch Lao Ai, whom they had already met in Quzhi — is suspected of not being a genuine eunuch. His Majesty wishes to have this rumor confirmed or refuted. With these words, the King leaves his new agents, pressed by a few royal matters that cannot wait.

The Minister of Laws, now alone with the group, advises them to find new identities that would allow them to travel within the royal city without attracting suspicion — for they are indeed in the royal city, in the pavilion of the late Prince Cheng Jiao. He then also takes his leave, explaining that a subordinate will come to collect their identity proposals the next day. The heroes find themselves alone in the pavilion. They will spend the night there, pondering their new identities. Nao suddenly seems very far away...

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1. In the presence of the King, it was customary to speak of oneself in the third person. "His Majesty's servant is happy to receive you". ↩︎