Lo Ten and Lien Ten

Lo Ten Jing

Lo Ten grew up in Wu Han, where his father, Mai Ten Jing enjoyed the position of high architect, the chief and most honored building designer in the city. He had two sisters and a twin brother, Lien Ten. As the center of architectural progress and design for the 6 kingdoms, Wu Han was a prosperous city. Mai Ten was so revered across the land that Emperor Jin commissioned him to create updates to the forbidden city, a task which had not been attempted for over 500 years. What Mai Tzo designed for the emperor remains unknown but it made him a rich man and employed his full attention for 7 years. Just before the final completion of the reconstruction, Mai Ten was visiting his family and home in Wu Han, which he did for a week every other month. His family could tell he was uneasy but he refused to say why. On the last day as he prepared to return to the forbidden city, soldiers approached the house. Mai Tzo rushed his family (those that were home: Lo Ten, his mother and younger sister, Hian Ten) into a secret chamber that he had constructed beneath the house. Mai Tzo met the soldiers at the door and was roughly taken into custody. Lien Ten and his older sister, Whan Ten, were at the market and returned as the soldiers ransacked the house. Mai Tzo, Lien Ten and Whan Ten were all taken away and were never seen again. After hiding beneath the house for a week, surviving on the rations stored there, Lo Ten, his mother and sister crept out and with the help of friends, escaped through Konn and eventually resettled with their Uncle in Wa Shin, Uusam. Uncle was a wealthy and powerful politician, and he was able to provide new identities in the Uusam upper class. They never knew how Mai Tzo had displeased the emperor, years later they speculated that it was an early manifestation of the madness. Since coming to Uusam, Lo Ten has followed in his fathers footsteps. He has become an expert architect, and has studied his fathers writings so extensively as to become the best renowned master of his father’s secret tunnel techniques where the fung shui is guided around such passages, making them “feel” as if they do not exist within the building on a spiritual level.

The generals of Uusam believe that Mai Ten Jing may have been commissioned to design secret tunnels into the Forbidden City of Shin. Likely this is why he was taken, to prevent him ever revealing their locations. Mai Ten Jing’s house in Wu Han still stands, and the generals theorize that there may be secret compartments within the house that have eluded the searches of the Shin army, such as the secret basement where Lo Ten and his mother survived. There may be maps that reveal the entrances to secret tunnels into the Forbidden City. It’s a long shot, but worth checking because the payout would ultimately mean success of the mission. Therefore, Lo Ten has agreed to join the expedition.

Lien Ten’s mission

The assembly of warriors is a top secret group, only a few know the that it even exists, and fewer know the specifics. One of those few is a Shin spy. Unfortunately for Lo Ten, his twin brother Lien Ten did not perish, rather he was taken by the Shin army and raised to unwaveringly trust the wisdom of Emperor Jin. Like Lo Ten, Lien Ten has studied his fathers works, but not as deeply, instead concentrating on combat and infiltration. One day before the assembly of warriors in Beuch, Lien Ten waylays his brother, sending him hidden in a merchant caravan towards Shin. Lien Ten then takes his place at the assembly.

It is expected that the assassins will fail in their mission as it is impossible to get into the forbidden city. Lien Ten is to gather intelligence about the strategy employed by the assassins, and use them to probe the Shin defenses. Once they fail, he is to report back with ways to close any gaps in the defense. His primary objective is to ensure that whatever loophole they may know about is secured.

Lien Ten knows that his brother has been recruited to the mission, the Shin military intelligence assumes that Lo Ten was recruited because he has studied his fathers construction techniques. It is true that Mai Ten worked on renovations to the Forbidden city, but why that would help gain entry is unclear. Lien Ten and the Shin military do not know that Uusam thinks that Mai Ten created secret tunnels at the behest of the emporer. This is a crazy theory anyway, because there is only one entrance to the forbidden city: the main gate. Lien Ten will find out the Uusam secret tunnel theory during session 1, this Friday. Lien Ten will also find out that there are two other assassin squads during session 1.

At Lien Ten’s disposal are a group of 8 ninja who are present in Beuch. They are under his command, but after departing Beuch it may be difficult to contact them without the others finding out. You may attempt to devise a contact strategy.

Notes to Jason on playing Lien Ten.

Lo Ten compared with Lien Ten. The character sheets of the two are attached.

You may describe the upbringing of Lien Ten and describe why he is so devout to the emperor if you wish. It is not unreasonable that he would be devout, as the entire country of Shin is devout. Lien Ten left Shin 6 months ago on this mission (2.5 years after the borders closed and 1.5 years after the capture of Huen Rae and Konn). When you left, the Shin people were happy, prosperous, and there were no signs of rebellion. There was much activity militarily and economically as the country prepared for war. Trade with the conquered lands of Huen Rae and Konn appeared very active.

For the 6 months prior, you were concentrating on the skills that would allow you to impersonate Lo Ten (KS secret tunnels, PS construction, acting, etc…). You could have done this in any city you like.

Any questions?