07 April 2015: Wu-Xia visits the Majesco Open House! 12 Aug. 2014: Wu-Xia participates in the Marksmanship Exam, and comes in first place! 22 June 2014: Wu-Xia participates in the Levitation Trials, and comes in first place! 10 Feb. 2014: Journal set-up complete! ... More-or-less. 05 Feb. 2014: Work on Journal begins! 04. Feb. 2014: Wu-Xia's Journal is created! 27 Jan. 2014: Wu-Xia's approved! 14 Jan. 2014: Wu-Xia's Quest Thread goes up!
Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 7:07 pm
Name: Wu-Xia St. Clair Alias: Xia [pronounced 'Zia'], Xi [pronounced 'Zee'] Age: 12 Gender: Female Powers: Telekinesis
Appearance: Wu-Xia has long, straight, dark-purple hair that's usually in braids, buns, or loops and secured with ribbons, with bangs that frame her heart-shaped face and pale blue, almond-shaped eyes. She favors blues, purples, and gold and mostly wears sleeveless or short-sleeved tops, cropped jackets, and half-pants for ease of movement. Wu-Xia is an active, skinny, slightly tanned kid who gets fidgety when forced to sit still. She has expressive eyes and no poker face: You don't have to be a psychic to tell what she's thinking.
Personality: Wu-Xia is energetic: Most "quiet" activities don't interest her, and while her focus has gotten better, she still tends to daydream. Despite or because of her active tendencies, Wu-Xia has a hard time slowing down, and often has trouble getting to sleep. Wu-Xia is easy to manage as long as she can stay active, and she's happy to run errands if she can avoid being cooped up indoors. (Rainy days usually drive her nuts.) She won't hesitate to volunteer in demonstrations or jump in if it looks like there's going to be trouble, though she rarely stops to think about the consequences and often doesn't seem to remember them after the fact (thanks, selective memory!). She's intensely competitive, and while she's learned to accept instruction from teachers, she's still sensitive to criticism. Wu-Xia is likely to overreach herself until she learns that overcoming her limits necessitates admitting that they exist. She honestly believes that almost anything is possible if you work hard enough, and does her best to give 120%, 24/7.
As a somewhat-spoiled only child, Wu-Xia isn't the best at teamwork: While not intentionally disruptive, she may try to take charge or go off on her own if things aren't moving fast enough. She likes making new friends and meeting new people, but can make enemies almost as easily, refusing to give ground if she thinks she's right; that said, it's rare for her to hold grudges. Because she's used to moving a lot, Wu-Xia tends to have many acquaintances and few real friends, though she's blithely unaware of the difference. Gregarious and open, Wu-Xia wears her heart on her sleeve and has a tendency to speak without thinking. She's somewhat fragile beneath her cheerful bravado, taking perceived failures or shortcomings to heart, and doesn't like sharing her problems; when bluffing doesn't work, Wu-Xia can get defensive, or she'll just refuse to talk about it. In all other areas, she's almost ridiculously honest and believes very strongly in keeping her word, even if it's to her detriment. (This, combined with her impulsive tendencies, can make Truth-or-Dare exceedingly risky.)
History: Wu-Xia's mother, Mei Lian, is a star of Hong Kong action movies, and her father, Gabriel, is a professor of Medieval History. They met when Gabriel was an undergrad and Mei Lian arrived in town for a time-traveling epic, and the two were smitten; enough so that, when filming finished, Gabriel packed his things and started working on his Mandarin. The birth of their only child changed little, and Wu-Xia was raised in globetrotting style, rarely staying in one place for more than a year or two. This gave Wu-Xia a broad view of the world, but her parents were both wrapped up in their work; while Wu-Xia spent much of her time on the sets of her mother's movies, or tagging along while her father did research or attended conferences, she was most often left with a string of caretakers. As Wu-Xia grew, her caretakers reported that she was becoming increasingly willful, and even her parents noticed that Wu-Xia would often be up to mischief.
Mei Lian began training Wu-Xia in basic martial arts when the girl was six, hoping to instill focus and discipline. When she realized that Wu-Xia was unsuited for T'ai Qi Quan, Mei Lian sought the advice of a fight-coordinator who regularly worked on her movies, a master of Tiger-style Kung-Fu. Wu-Xia proved an apt pupil who soon clamored to enter tournaments, and her parents were happy that she'd found a passion; her tutors reported that she was doing better, so Gabriel and Mei Lian remained hands-off. Wu-Xia's abilities eventually surpassed what should have been possible for even a well-trained girl her age - she'd later realize she'd been making unconscious use of her latent psychic powers - but the first proof didn't occur until recently, when she accidentally threw out a PSI-Punch in the middle of a heated championship match.
It being a psychic attack, most people couldn't see it, but Wu-Xia confessed to her parents... who initially didn't believe her. Wu-Xia attempted to recreate the 'qi-blast,' resulting in broken furniture but nonetheless convincing her parents that she was on to something... though they had no idea that it had to do with psychics until the brochure for Murmuring Pines arrived. In a way, it was a relief: Gabriel and Mei Lian had been at their wits' end regarding Wu-Xia, who'd decided she had superpowers and had caused minor damages while trying to use them. Gabriel is fascinated by the fact that psychic phenomenon really exists, while Mei Lian is as calm as ever, expecting Wu-Xia to apply herself as she did to kung-fu. For her part, Wu-Xia was eager to head off; not only had she never gone to summer camp, but she'd learn to use psychic powers? Awesome! Plus, since she and her parents always seemed to be moving from place to place, Murmuring Pines will be the first time Wu-Xia's ever been around other kids her age for so long-- What's not to look forward to?
Aura: Wu-Xia possesses an expansive, low-frequency aura whose primary spectrum is Electric Crimson Red; her secondary aura, manifesting in her PSI, is Mikado Yellow. As an untrained psychic, Wu-Xia has the standard glowing outline, with concentrations of light around her torso and lower body.
Notes: The "Xia" of Wu-Xia is more of 'shiya' than a 'zia,' but most people pronounce it like the latter, so Wu-Xia accepts it. Due to her family and their travels, Wu-Xia is fluent in English and Mandarin Chinese, with a slight, mixed accent in both; she's capable of conversational French, though she's far from fluent. (Which is why she defaults to English.) Her name comes from the wuxia hero-archetype of Chinese legend, specifically the film genre. Wu-Xia actually practices a modified Tiger-style, with elements of Leopard, to better accommodate her size and speed. Despite her drive and personality, which would seem to make her a good fit for team sports, Wu-Xia's family is too mobile for her to get involved with anything along those lines.
✦Telepathy ✦ Upgrades: None ✦ Wu-Xia's mental transmissions are a little scattered, but gets clearer if she focuses.
✦Astral Projection ✦ Upgrades: None
✦PSI-Punch ✦ Upgrades: None ✦ A ghostly, oversized replica of Wu-Xia's hand, rendered in bright red energy.
✦PSI-Blast ✦ Upgrades: None ✦ A scarlet beam of light shot through with crackling yellow sparks.
✦Levitation ✦ Upgrades: None ✦ A translucent sphere of fiery psychic energy orbited by an electric-yellow ring.
Unique PSI Powers
✦Telekinesis ✦ Upgrades: None ✦ A glowing hand of spectral red energy lashes out like a whip, seizing its target.
Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 7:42 pm
Name: Marquee Mountain
Theme: A series of sound-stages surround the base of a mountain, where mental constructs shoot a number of movies: In one area a Western, in another a zombie movie, in another an action flick. The mood is one of ceaseless energy, though observers might notice that little seems to be getting done. Paths are dotted with posts whose signs are shaped like clapperboards, directing people to places like Western Roadway or Coronation Castle; carts selling theater snacks, like popcorn, are scattered throughout, movie posters are plastered everywhere (with Wu-Xia replacing the star in many), and ticket stubs blow past like leaves. A red carpet (which occasionally changes its route) winds through the backlots and up the titular mountain, the peak of which supports a massive movie-screen topped with Wu-Xia's name in lights. The screen plays footage of Wu-Xia, either real-life memories (using her powers, training, winning tournaments) or daydreams (accepting awards, fighting off "bad guys," being a Psychonaut); if intruders are currently detected (that is, attracting Censors), they're displayed in real-time, as if on a security camera. Everything on and off the sets are clearly props, including the sun, moon, and stars, which are themed floodlights rotated by massive, hand-cranked cranes to create "night" and "day." An unseen audience reacts to things that happen in on the sets, like applauding an impressively-accomplished task or booing people who destroy sets. Theme [audible everywhere except in the Hidden Room/tunnel to Hidden Room] Layout [MSPaint]
Constructs:Extras are dressed as their role, from baristas to cops to ninja. They're always in-character while on-set and never take out-of-character actions; off-set, they speak with American accents and complain about guild fees, or wonder if they're on the clock. Techies wear headsets and polo shirts with the Marquee Mountain logo, touching up the world (repainting trees, wheeling racks of costumes, cranking the crane to switch out the sun/moon/stars) and running errands. The Director is an noodle-limbed, turtleneck-and-beret-wearing stereotype with Fu Manchu facial hair and John Lennon glasses, attended by Techies and shouting through a megaphone; he treats everyone, including visitors, like gofers, but can summon Security (Censors) if he decides that you're "disrupting filming." All NPCs resemble stylized 2D puppets, with slightly stilted movements and paper-doll clothes.
Censors: If intruders cause trouble, they'll attract Normal Censors in blue security guard uniforms and red ties, who attempt to "escort intruders off the premises." Shouting Censors, wearing berets and carrying megaphones as well as clipboards, pop up when attempting to access the trap door on Marquee Mountain [see below]. Normal Censors will lose interest and disappear if they lose track of intruders, or if they're fooled by Invisibility, but can be summoned by Shouting Censors; Shouting Censors will pursue intruders so long as they remain in the vicinity of the trap door, but will not enter the Hidden Room.
Enemies: Aside from the Censors, none.
Figments: Wu-Xia's Figments come in blue, light blue, purple, yellow, orange, and red; most are clapperboards, posters, boxes of popcorn or soda cups, and megaphones, as well as stick-figure directors and fans, and these are mostly found in and around the stages. Others are kung-fu broadswords, figures in martial stances, books, and European weapons like halbards and rapiers, which are largely found on the mountain itself. A few random Figments - beams of light, psychic waves, and the Murmuring Pines logo - indicate Wu-Xia's new interest in the psychic world.
Memory Vaults: 1. Wu-Xia: On My Way! is in Soundstage Maze, near the set where they're shooting a wire-fu flick, and is easily-found; the slides show a younger Wu-Xia riding a horse as her proud parents look on, reading with her father, and learning martial arts from her mother. The next slide shows an older Wu-Xia training with her sifu, then winning a championship against a bully-like opponent with a glamorized psychic blast (those with training recognize it as a PSI-Punch) amidst cheering fans and raining confetti. In the next slide, a figure presents Wu-Xia with a glowing brochure for Murmuring Pines, and the final slide (her imagined future, denoted by a thought-bubble border) shows Wu-Xia atop her Levitation sphere, striking a victory pose and wearing a Psychonaut uniform. 2. Wu-Xia: On My Own is in the Hidden Room [see below], huddled on the stand under the TV; activating it causes slides to show onscreen, revealing that Wu-Xia's parents often left her alone or with caretakers, and she would attempt, usually in vain, to get their attention through pranks and stunts. Her parents did attend her first kung-fu tournament, which she won, convincing her that the only way to earn their affection is by continuing to win. In the final slide, Wu-Xia stands before a wall of awards, built around the family photo from the Hidden Room, and looks down at the Murmuring Pines brochure in her hands.
Obstacles: Marquee Mountain has three main areas: Soundstage Maze, Road to Stardom, and The Pinnacle of Success, plus the above-mentioned Hidden Room. ♦ The Soundstage Maze is the tangle of sets and dressing-rooms at the mountain's base. The red carpet begins at the starting area, passing under the arch of the Marquee Mountain sign and winding through the sets; it's easy to get distracted and/or turned around, and moving off the carpet means you're likely to get pulled into an ongoing production. The specifics depend on the set, but will fall into one of three categories: Either you're cast in a scene, you've been drafted to fix or set up props, or you have to run errands for the Director. All NPCs lack combat abilities and go down immediately if attacked, but violence results in a swarm of Censors. You can use Confusion or Hypnosis to talk your way out, and Levitation can be handy for getting a bird's-eye view. This is the only part of Wu-Xia's mindscape with mental constructs; once past the Maze, you're unlikely to trigger Censors unless you damage the "set" or attempt to access the Hidden Room. - Example Tasks: Filling in for an Extra and using Clairvoyance to figure out what you're expected to do, as NPCs will see you as whatever role you're supposed to be playing; powering generators with Electrokinesis; using PSI-Punch to loosen the crank on the sky-crane. ♦ Road to Stardom is the spiraling path that snakes up the mountain, which is semi-hollow and laced with slides that function as secret passages. The red carpet splits, sometimes leading into dead ends or loops; other passages spit you out at random places, Chutes and Ladders-style. The trail that goes around the outside of the mountain is blocked by boulders, which can be removed with Geokinesis or knocked out of the way with PSI-Blast or Telekinesis, though the latter two will cause a rockfall on the sets below, alerting Censors. The Director knows the right path, and can either be convinced to help (unlikely) or have his mind read with Telepathy. ♦ The Pinnacle of Success is a manicured, star-shaped park with a massive movie-screen set up in the middle; star-shaped confetti perpetually rains down, melting like snowflakes before it hits the grass. An old-fashioned projector shines Wu-Xia's memories or daydreams onto the screen, and can be used to access specific memories (only good ones; see Memory Vault 1 for what would be acceptable) if the right code is entered into the console at its side. The code can be learned through Scrying, or Psychometry could detect Wu-Xia's "psychic fingerprints" on the number pad. ♦ The Hidden Room is technically inside the mountain, and there's a small chance you'll wind up at a tunnel leading to it, but it's blocked by a Mental Cobweb, beyond which lies a nondescript-looking door. The 'easier' method is ascending to the top of the mountain and checking behind the screen, where cardboard bushes hide a trap door. Opening the trap door summons Shouting Censors, but leads into a downward-sloping tunnel blocked by another Mental Cobweb, beyond which lies a second door, which opens into a large, dimly-lit bedroom. Movies, books, and comics are scattered and stacked everywhere, and the walls are covered with posters from Wu-Xia's mother's movies, dust-jackets from her father's books, and similar merchandise; Wu-Xia is only present in a large, framed photo that the centerpiece of the room, in which her parents are hugging a younger Wu-Xia as she holds a trophy. A TV, turned off, sits on an entertainment stand at the far end. Most psychics will get a feeling of sadness and/or loneliness from the room, and those with Psychometry or Empathy will receive a clearer sense/vision of this part of Wu-Xia's past. [see Memory Vault 2]
Age: 1 year Species: Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens) Powers: Telekinesis
Appearance: A hand-sized male betta fish with long, flowing, fan-shaped fins, shimmering in a literal rainbow of colors.
Personality: Chi is about as intelligent as a normal fighting fish, so far as Wu-Xia can tell... though admittedly, she doesn't have Animal Telepathy, so she doesn't know for sure. He spends most of his time in his bowl and seems content to rule his small domain, though he will bite at any intruders, including fingers. He does know Wu-Xia, and won't snap at her; she's also trained him to do tricks, which he'll (almost always) obey with the expectation of tasty, tasty blood worms to follow. Chi's favorite food is small insects, and he's yet to realize that he can grab them with Telekinesis, instead using Telekinesis to lift himself and the contents of his bowl into the air; this results in a colorful fish, in a loose sphere of lakewater, slowly roaming the camp in pursuit of crickets or mayflies.
History: When Wu-Xia learned that she could only bring one pet, she sadly ruled out her birds, not wanting to separate them; to cheer her up, her parents bought her a fighting fish. Wu-Xia decided to name him Chi, and was surprised to find that the fish not only grew larger after their arrival at camp, but developed psychic powers of his own! ... Possibly because Wu-Xia filled his bowl with water from the lake. After some time at Murmuring Pines - and possibly a few close calls - Chi will develop Hypnosis to defend against marauding wildlife, mischievous campers, and other psychic pets. This may or may not be accompanied by an increase in sapience.
This is meta-information regarding Wu-Xia, future plans, and so on, so forth; in short, pretty boring, so feel free to skip this post and move on to the Journal proper. This is here so that I A) remember what I was going to do in Wu-Xia's "storyline" and B) don't lose said notes, as is my wont. That said, you can also read it, if you want! ... It's just not super exciting.
Future Powers
Psycadet: Shield Student: Mind Over Body Recruit: Scrying Agent: Photokinesis Psychonaut: Invisibility
Future Upgrades
Standard Powers Psi-Blast: Ricochet, Ricochetx2
Unique Powers Telekinesis: Crush, Multiple Targets, Poltergeist Shield: Knock Back Mind Over Matter: Increase Mental Health, Regeneration Scrying: Advanced Meditation, Lucid Dreaming Photokinesis: Multiple Sources, Flash Bang Invisibility: Increase Duration, Shorter Recharge
Next Mental World Evolution
Camper > Psycadet
Over time, as WuXia matures and learns more about focus and inner calm, her Mental World slowly changes; the pace becomes less frenetic, the "productions" become more productive, and the various NPCs mellow out or otherwise become calmer. The aesthetic also begins to change, focusing less on WuXia's ego/outward projection and more on her internal development.
As it does so, it gains a more Eastern/Ancient China aesthetic: Old-fashioned steepled buildings, bamboo forests, etc. Ultimately, this becomes the primary aesthetic: The mountain resembles those from Chinese epics, the NPCs are appropriately-dressed, and while there's still a subtle movie/Hollywood theme, it's integrated with the new martial arts/Zen theme, i.e. the dramatic courtyards and vistas are still well-made props, amazing feats of acrobatics and martial arts are accomplished via wire-fu, and so on.
The Pinnacle of Success, in its final form, becomes the Peak of Aspiration, representing not just worldly success/fame but internal balance and striving to succeed in all areas, for the right reasons. Probably replaced by a peaceful area with reflecting pools, etc.
Reply
