FEMMES FATALES
HSIEN-KO
Val CHA Cost Roll Notes 10 STR 0 11- Lift 100 kg; 2d6 HTH Damage [1] 20 DEX 30 13- OCV: 7/DCV: 7 25 CON 30 14- 8 BODY -4 11- 18 INT 8 13- PER Roll 13- 21 EGO 22 13- ECV: 7 18 PRE 8 13- PRE Attack: 3 1/2d6 20 COM 5 13- 10 PD 8 Total: 10 PD (5 rPD) 10 ED 5 Total: 10 ED (5 rED) 4 SPD 10 Phases: 3, 6, 9, 12 8 REC 2 50 END 0 30 STUN 4 Total Characteristic Cost: 128 Movement: Running: 7"/14" Leaping: 8"/16" Swimming: 2"/4" Cost Powers & Skills Martial Arts: Kung Fu Maneuver OCV DCV Damage 4 Block +2 +2 Block, Abort 4 Dodge -- +5 Dodge, Affects All Attacks, Abort 5 Kick -2 +1 6d6 Strike 3 Legsweep +2 -1 3d6 Strike, Target Falls 4 Punch +0 +2 4d6 Strike 1 Weapon Element: Tiger Claws 40 Sleeve Weapons: Multipower, 60-point reserve, all slots Restrainable (-1/2) 3u 1) Firebolt: EB 10d6; Restrainable (-1/2), END 5 3u 2) Lengths Of Chain: Entangle 4d6, 4 DEF, Takes No Damage From Attacks (All Attacks; +1/2); Restrainable (-1/2), Cannot Form Barriers (-1/4), END 6 3u 3) Cloud Of Blades: RKA 1d6+1, Reduced Endurance (1/2 END; +1/2), Autofire (10 shots; +1); Restrainable (-1/2), END 2 2u 4) Spiked Ball: RKA 2d6, +1 Increased STUN Multiplier (+1/4); Restrainable (-1/2), END 4 12 Tiger Claw: HKA 1d6 (1 1/2d6 w/STR), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2); OIF (-1/2), Reduced Penetration (-1/4) 5 Tiger Claw: a second Tiger Claw (total of 2) 5 Supernatural Resistance To Harm: Damage Resistance (5 PD/5 ED) 10 Protective Talisman: Mental Defense (16 points total); IIF (protective talisman worn on her forehead; -1/4) 17 Returning to the Spirit Realm: Extra-Dimensional Movement (one location in the Spirit Realms), Safe Blind Travel (+1/4); IAF (jar of ashes; -1/2), END 2 11 Springing About: Leaping +6" (8" forward, 4" upward) (Accurate), END 1 2 Deceptive Speed: Running +1" (7" total), END 1 40 Speaking With The Dead: Retrocognitive, Precognitive Clairsentience (Sight And Hearing Groups), Reduced Endurance (0 END; +1/2), Persistent (+1/2); No Conscious Control (Only Effects cannot be controlled; Ghosts and visions show up on their own unless Hsien-ko is wearing her IIF Protective Talisman to keep them away; -1), Precognition/Retrocognition Only (-1), Only Through The Senses Of Others (Hisen-ko can only see things the ghosts themselves have seen; -1/2) 5 Can See In The Dark: Nightvision 50 Ghost Body: Life Support (Full, including Longevity: Immortal) Skills 16 +2 with All Combat 8 Penalty Skill Levels: +4 vs. Range Modifier with Sleeve Weapons 3 Acrobatics 13- 3 Breakfall 13- 3 CK: Hong Kong 13- 3 Concealment 13- 0 Language: Cantonese (idiomatic; literate) 4 Language: English (completely fluent; literate) 3 Language: Japanese (fluent conversation; literate) 5 Language: Mandarin (idiomatic; literate) 3 Seduction 13- 3 Stealth 13- 3 Streetwise 13- 2 Survival (Urban) 13- 1 WF: Tiger Claws 3 Scholar 2 1) KS: Chinese Ghosts and Spirits 13- 2 2) KS: Chinese Philosophy 13- 2 3) KS: Chinese and Hong Kong History 13- 2 4) KS: Hong Kong Underworld (sometimes literally) 13- 1 5) KS: Kung Fu 11- 2 6) KS: Occult Lore 13- 2 7) KS: The Magical World 13- Total Powers & Skill Cost: 305 Total Cost: 433 200+ Disadvantages 20 Distinctive Features: Blue Skin and Cool To The Touch (Not Concealable; Always Noticed and Causes Major Reaction; Detectable By Commonly-Used Senses) 10 Distinctive Features: Style (Not Concealable; Noticed and Recognizable; Detectable By Large Group) 10 Hunted: Assorted Ghost Hunters And Magicians 8- (As Pow, Harshly Punish) 0 Hunted: Assorted Ghost Hunters And Magicians 8- (As Pow, Watching) 15 Physical Limitation: Cannot Stand The Light Of Day (Infrequently, Fully Impairing) 15 Physical Limitation: Physically Repelled By Good Luck Charms And Holy Texts (Infrequently, Fully Impairing) 0 Physical Limitation: "Dies" For Real If Her Urn Of Ashes Is Destroyed 10 Psychological Limitation: "This Too Shall Pass" (Common, Moderate) 10 Psychological Limitation: Afraid Of "Dying," Very Concerned With Ensuring Her Existence (Uncommon, Strong) 15 Psychological Limitation: Protective Of Her Friends And Teammates (Especially Sakura) (Common, Strong) 10 Psychological Limitation: Soft-Spoken, Quiet And Reserved (Common, Moderate) 15 Social Limitation: Dead: Hsien-Ko Is Not A "Legal Citizen," She Has No Identity, Passport, Citizenship, Insurance, and so on. (Occasionally, Severe) 20 Susceptibility: to sunlight 1d6 damage per Phase (Common) 83 Experience Points Total Disadvantage Points: 433
Background/History: Born in 1730 to a poor peasant family, Hsien-ko had the misfortune to grow up to be an exceptional beauty. It didn't take long for her to attract the notice of one of the local lords, and the two quickly found themselves embroiled in a passionate, if doomed, love affair. For the lord was next in line to head his house and could not allow such a dalliance to become public knowledge. So, after meeting with Hsien-ko late one night, he quietly killed her and quickly dumped her body in a nearby canal.
When Hsien-ko "awoke," she found herself in a strange city, surrounded by buildings and people she didn't recognize. She had changed as well, with her skin having taken on a strange blue color and her clothing having been replaced with rich robes. She couldn't stand the light of the sun and she no longer felt hungry (or tired for that matter). It didn't take long for her to discover the truth—she was a dead.
Having been pulled from the canal after floating some distance, Hsien-ko's body had been cleaned, dressed and then burned, with her ashes being sealed in a thick clay jar and placed in an out of the way cemetery (the one usually reserved for suicides). Effectively homeless and with no family to ensure she was sent off to the underworld properly, Hsien-ko had become stranded on earth, assuming the form of a kuang-shi—a ghost.
As time passed, Hsien-ko adapted to her surroundings as best as she could. She slowly learned how to survive in her new form and eventually gained enough power to walk about more than just the cemetery grounds. She discovered she was completely solid to the touch, if a bit cool, and that not everyone was frightened of her new status. There still were those who appreciated her still-evident beauty and were willing to help her, even if she was rather dead. Thus, Hsien-ko was able to regain possession of her funeral urn, receive some basic training in self defense, and learn quite a bit about the world of magic, spirits and the occult.
As Hong Kong grew in size, Hsien-ko worked her way deeper and deeper inside certain older districts in the city. As time passed people began to believe less and less in ghosts and similar creatures, which at time made it hard for her to move about. On the other hand, people *did* believe in metahumans and paranormal powers, and she was able to take advantage of that fact more than once. For a short while Hsien-ko was the scourge of the Western District, fighting tongs and triads in an effort to ensure her safety.
The final straw came when Hsien-ko was informed by a fellow spirit that Hong Kong was to be surrendered to the Communist Chinese within the next decade. If there was one thing Hsien-ko had learned about "red" China, it was that ghosts *did not* exist. Realizing her existence would become nigh impossible under the new regime, Hsien-ko elected to leave her home of over 200 years and see about finding a new place to dwell. In an effort to ensure her funeral jar remained protected during those times she was forced to retreat to the spirit world, Hsien-ko contact Sofia, offering her services in exchange for protection and an eventual permanent and secure place of refuge.
Personality/Motivation: Well over 250 years old, Hsien-ko has seen a great deal. She has seen births and deaths, invasions by the Japanese and occupation by the British. She has witnessed the Boxer Rebellion and Triad street wars. She has watched as Hong Kong has developed in a sprawling modern metropolis. Thus, she has developed a "this too shall pass" attitude, in which she simply stands aside and lets events happen as they will. This same attitude also explains her quiet and reserved manner. Hsien-ko realizes that loud, aggressive actions usually don't get the desired results (although they may get quick results) and feels that any such behavior is a waste of energy.
Interestingly enough, Hsien-ko has found herself becoming quite fond of Sakura. It is perhaps the girl's rather infectious energy and spirit that has brought this attitude about, and Hsien-ko will admit that Sakura reminds the ghost of her now long-dead younger sister. In any event, Hsien-ko has become fairly protective of Sakura and will quickly come to her aid in a time of need.
As a final note,Hsien-ko's 250 plus years of "unlife" have brought about a strong fear of dying for "real." Hsien-ko has come to accept her state and would rather not be banished to where ever it is she was supposed to go. Her main concern is ensuring the security of her funeral urn, for as long as it is whole, she will be as well.
Quote: "Well, eh... have I seen you before? Before I died, maybe?"
[before a fight] "I hope the Yama kings have mercy upon your soul, for I shall not."
[after winning a fight] "I hope you have a pleasant journey throughout the Nine Courts of Justice."
"Sakura, we have to cooperate... Hey, are you listening!?"
Powers/Tactics: As a kuang-shi, Hsien-ko has certain specific powers. She is fairly hard to hurt, being as she is already dead. She no longer requires sleep, food or drink, although she can fake it if needed. Hsien-ko can also see fairly well in the dark, even in pitch darkness. As a creature of the spirit realm, Hsien-ko can return to said realm at anytime, provided she has her funeral urn on hand. This urn is a small, heavy pot of ashes that needs to remain closed and unharmed. If destroyed or emptied, it is likely that Hsien-ko will be forced to remain where the ashes were spilled, or possibly destroyed herself. Hsien-ko is also able to communicate with the spirits of the dead. The spirits will tell her of things that have happened, or can give her visions of things to come. The only draw back is that they tend to be lonely and want to talk to someone, meaning she normally has to wear a ward in order to get any sort of peace and quiet.
Aside from her ghostly abilities, Hsien-ko has developed some interesting supernatural powers over the years. Her most potent is her ability to project objects from within the voluminous sleeves of her tunic. These objects include tongues of flame, swarms of flying knives and other blades, large spiked balls, and long lengths of chains. These objects are quite solid and will remain after being thrown from her sleeves. Naturally, the amount of stuff she can fire from inside her sleeves far exceeds any logical amount of storage space inside said sleeves.
In combat with the Femme Fatales, Hsien-ko will function as ranged support, using he sleeve-launched weapons to harass and restrain foes. Normally she uses her chains and flame blasts, although the spiked ball is a favorite as well. Her cloud of blades can be very lethal and is usually only used as a weapon of last resort. If pressed in hand-to-hand combat, Hsien-ko will produce a pair of "tiger claws," which are a set of long thin blades designed to fit over the hands. These blades are very sharp and can cut through even modern body armor.
Appearance: Hsien-ko stands a scant 5'2" and weighs only 92 lbs with generous proportions that seem doubtful for a Chinese woman born in 1730. It has been suggested that her current appearance is an assumed form and not her original shape. Hsien-ko's skin is a pale bluish color, almost a blue-gray. Her eyes are brown, while her shoulder-length hair is an inky blue-black. Despite her odd coloration, she is quite attractive.
Hsien-ko's "costume' consists of white socks, black slippers, loose blue trousers, a long-sleeved blue tunic with gold cuffs and a red, high-collared sleeveless overtunic with gold trim. The overtunic has a broad oval-cut out on the upper chest that displays a fair amount of cleavage. A wide gold sash/belt keeps the overtunic in place. Hsien-ko also wears a red Mandarin-styled hat topped with a gold ball and trim. Normally a length of rice paper inscribed with various symbols hangs from the hat. This is the "Protective Talisman" from her character sheet.
Relations with team members:
- Blue Mary: Hsien-ko can tell that Mary is frightened of her (even if she doesn't really show it). So, she keeps out of Mary's way as much as possible, which suits the other woman just fine.
- Matrix: Even dead, and having seen some fairly bizarre things in the underworld, Hsien-ko finds the idea of mechanical augmentation chilling. It doesn't help that some of the ghosts have told her that in the future, it will only get worse, reaching a point where men and machines may become indistinguishable.
- Roomi: To Hsien-ko, the bouncy synthetic catgirl is to be pitied. As far as the ghost can tell, Roomi doesn't have a soul, meaning that once her stay here on the mortal world is over, that's it. Thus, she does her best to be nice to Roomi, even when Roomi does something less than brilliant.
- Sakura: As stated, Hsien-ko and Sakura are close friends. Hsien-ko has appointed herself Sakura's 'mentor' and although she can't teach Sakura much about the martial arts, her philosophical advice (not to mention 250 years of hard-earned wisdom) is greatly appreciated.
- Sofia: Sofia is smart, ruthless and dedicated to her team members. That means that Hsien-ko can feel fairly secure that Sofia won't let anything happen to her jar of ashes, as Hsien-ko is certainly an important member of the team. This gives Hsien-ko peace of mind, as well as ensuring her support for Sofia's plans.
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