[HQ Ignorance] Re : Scene 118: Kui Hui, The Giant Hero

[Lev Lafayette]

Narration: Azhur gives his speech with the Red Banner fluttering in the
eastern breeze, aglow from the magics of Jareena's First Peace Rug.
Rikku calls out across the wind, speaking with a steadfast passion that
impresses the rest of the Fellowship just with the sound of the voice -
they have never heard him so determined.

The giant responds with a rumbling voice that carries across the rice
fields. 

"You ask me and the people here to willingly stand alongside the
Usurper? We have stood with loyalty to our Emperor and our God, for they
are the same. We have neither brought civil war or invasion to these
lands. The peasants have stayed true to their station, and I have stayed
true to mine."

"You ask me to fight alongside the Usurper and take up arms agains the
Bliss of Ignorance and the Amethyst Dragon, like you fought the Crimnson
Bat, and yes, I have heard of that monster. But we are followers of Yao
Fune, and we do not fight. After I fought the Lobster Demon, the battle
was so terrible I believed that I was to become a demon myself. I fight
no longer. Conflict will not enter these lands."

"If the Exarch wishes to bring Peace to Kralorela, then he must find
Peace within himself, as must the Amethyst Dragon, as must Can Shu."

Mechanics: There is only one speaker (Rikku) translating the words of
Azhur. So this counts a one-on-one contest, and I'll make it an extended
contest using the new rules. 

The base is 14 (the skill level), put with an Hates Brother 20 (+4)
augment. Other characters provide augments, such as the Banner 14 (+3),
helped by Jareena's First Peace Rug 15 (+3) (yes, only one augment
each), for a total of 4W. On the other side, Hui Kui is an extremely
loyal devotee to both the cult, the Emperor and to his culture; plus he
counts as a heroic character. So his resistance is based on his
Kralorela Culture (19), plus an augment for his religion (+4), plust a
situational bonus of (+3) - so a total of 6W.

A roll of 2 for the Fellowship, success bumped to a critical versus a
roll of 4 for Hui Kui, a success, bumped to a critical! However Azhur is
also spending a Hero Point, reducing the result to a success, in other
words a minor victory for the Fellowship. Hui Kui is Impaired - and is
now at -6 as you press the argument.

Narration: There is a pause as the wind seemingly grows stronger, and
the banner flutters. The Giant continues "You speak the truth
Westerners. This is a trouble time. I must look outside the lands Laonan
Tao and to all of Kralorela, for that is my duty to my God and Emperor.
And if he commands I shall look to even more barbaric lands."

"If you can bring a word of honour from the Exarch, that he will submit
to the rule of the Emperor when he returns, then I will come with him to
face the invaders. But let it be known Westerner, that I do not fight.
Fighting is the path to war, and I will not participate in the shedding
of blood."

Mechanics: He's not down yet! Not only are you going to have to extract
a promise from the Exarch, you're also going to have to think of a way
to make use of a Giant Hero who does not fight.