Castle Falkenstein 1e - Once upon a time in Hong Kong.pdf

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Once Upon a Time in Hong Kong
Sir Sebastian Thomas, English gentleman of leisure, invites you to embark on a Great
Steam Age Adventure set in the world of Castle Falkenstein.
Once Upon a Time in Hong Kong
"Even now the British fleet is moving into position near Kwang-Tung ready to attack, its
presence masked by my allies among the Unseelie. All that remains is one last
provocation that will drive the Dragon Emperor to declare war, then the ships will attack
and the whole of Tung Kun, the Samon peninsular and the Pearl River Delta will become
British soil."
Sir Robert broke off his tirade as one of the house servants entered with a note. His face
reddened and his expression turned to a scowl as he read it.
"Dammit all! The Wyrm has taken my daughter and seeks to hold her to ransom. He
informs me that he will return her unharmed when the fleet is withdrawn. How did he
even know of the ships?"
"Sir! Even the loss of Constance is no excuse for language such as that, not with ladies
present." Said Sir Sebastian, reaching for the brandy. "It would seem that the Emperor
has outsmarted you. Now you must back down from this foolish war."
"You are wrong Sir Sebastian. By kidnapping a British subject, the Emperor has given
me the excuse that I needed. Let him do what he will to Constance, I care not. The fleet
will attack with the dawn, and you cannot prevent it."
As he spoke, the shadows in the room took shape and strong hands reached out from
the darkness to take hold of Sir Sebastian and his companions.
Hong Kong is little more than a staging post for the transit of opium to China and silks,
spices and jade back to Great Britain, but (with the backing of the Steam Lords and the
Unseelie) the Governor has a vision for the colony's growth in wealth and importance....
at the expense of the Dragon Emperor.
Of course, all the best laid plans of mice and men etc. With pirates and anarchists in the
islands, all the Martial Arts mayhem of Jackie Chan's 'Project A', and a criminal
mastermind planning to hold the colony to ransom with his freeze ray - not to mention
masked vigilantes on the streets and the abduction of the governor's daughter - 1872
promises to be an interesting year in Hong Kong's history.
Contents
Introduction
Dramatis Personae
What Has Gone Before
Montague Lodge
The MacDonald Letters
Chapter 1 - A Request for Help
In which Sir Sebastian Thomas, an English socialite who has not been seen around New
Europa for many months, sends a telegram requesting the aid of companions and
friends. And in which those companions travel to the British colony of Hong Kong,
learning much about the local history on their voyage. On their arrival in the colony, they
learn that Sir Sebastian has not been seen there since Christmas.
Why might the Characters aid Sir Sebastian?
The Journey to Hong Kong
A Brief History of the Colony
Arrival on the Island
The Issue of Language
At least the Weather is Fine
The Time of Year
William Sunderland and Mrs Agnes Fothergill
A Chinese Banquet
Chapter 2 - The Tai-pan's Ball
In which the companions seek news of their friend Sir Sebastian and attend a ball given
by James Buchanan, the tai-pan of the Jardine-Matheson trading company, whereby
they learn all of the latest news and gossip in the colony. They discover a number of
conflicting stories concerning Sir Sebastian's disappearance, and then receive a
mysterious request to a secret rendezvous.
An Invitation to the Tai-pan's Ball
Exploring the Colony
Victoria Barracks
The Police Station
The Telegraph Office
The Hong Kong Club
What has become of Sir Sebastian
The Hongs of Hong Kong
The Tai-pan
Compradors
The Great Ball
The Latest Tittle-Tattle
A Mysterious Message
Chapter 3 - The World of Suzy Wong
In which a secret assignation with Constance MacDonald leads the characters to the
district of Wan Chai in the Chinese quarter of the colony, where they meet the lady
Wong Hsao-Tsing, learn that Sir Sebastian has visited Peking, witness the criminal
activities of the Triads, meet the Masked Vigilante as he dispenses justice, and discover
his true identity.
A Secret Assignation
Sir Sebastian’s Mysterious Illness
The Floating City
Happy Valley
Witnesses to an Affray
Tongs and Triads
Enter the Masked Vigilante
The Man Behind the Mask
News of Sir Sebastian
Chapter 4 - Exploring the Island
In which the companions are invited on a hunt and narrowly escape death when the
native huntsmen flee in terror of a wild boar, leaving them to face it alone. And in which
they subsequently explore the island of Hong Kong seeking White Powder Tung and his
smugglers in order to learn whether Sir Sebastian has returned from Peking, and in the
process rescue a group of travellers threatened by bandits.
The Pleasures and Perils of the Hunt
The Bandits of Repulse Bay
The Story of Constance MacDonald
The Towns of Hong Kong Island
Aberdeen
Stanley
Chapter 5 - The Land of the Nine Dragons
In which the intrepid party ventures across Victoria Harbour to Tsim Sha Tsui to
investigate the nightly destruction of the railway line being built between Kau Lung and
Kwang-Tung. There they discover the Secret of the Sleeping Dragon at the Temple of
Elemental Harmony, and compare the magick practised in China with New Europan
sorcery.
Crossing the Harbour to Kau Lung
The Kau Lung to Kwang-Tung Railway
The Temple of Elemental Harmony
The Religion of Hong Kong
The I Ching
Feng Shui
The Tao of the Spirit World
The Walled City of Kau Lung
Chapter 6 - The City of God
In which the characters visit the Portuguese colony of Macao in order to send back word
to New Europa concerning the evil plans of Sir Robert MacDonald.
The Oldest Outpost of New Europa in the Far East
The Story of a Portuguese Colony
The Influence of the Church
A Visit to the Telegraph Office
Chapter 7 - Sailing the South China Seas
In which the companions, while sailing among the outlying islands, meet a number of
interesting and dangerous characters including pirates, the smuggler White Powder
Tung and the criminal mastermind Captain Harlock. And in which they are finally
reunited with Sir Sebastian.
StoneCutters Island
Lamma
The Frost Ship Rime
Anatomy of a Freeze Ray
Lantau
Cheung Chau
Pirates in the Islands
A Joyful Reunion
Chapter 8 - Confrontation at Government House
In which the companions thwart an assassination attempt by the triads on the Emissary
from the Dragon Emperor, Wong Ch'ai-Ling, as he arrives in Hong Kong. And in which
they subsequently confront the Sir Robert MacDonald in Government House, but fall
prey to the Oriental members of the Unseelie Court and are placed in deadly peril of
their lives.
The Ambassador's Official Arrival
Bearding the Governor in his Den
A Kidnapping
But Some Villains Never Accept Defeat....
The Governor's Pet Unseelie
Yeh Cha
The Involvement of the Unseelie
Awaiting Death by Drowning
The Wreck of the Good Ship Hesperus
Chapter 9 - Showdown on Samian Island
In which the adventurers seek to prevent war between Great Britain and the Dragon
Emperor of the Middle Kingdom as the two great military forces array themselves for
battle over Kwang-Tung and Samian Island.
Resolution
Aftermath
Appendices
Glossary of Terms
A Note on Names
People
Places
Useful Background Materials
Books
Film and Video
The Book of Changes
Host Character - Sir Sebastian Thomas
Selected extracts from the diaries of Sir Sebastian Thomas
Pre-Generated Characters
Contessa Consuela Hernandez
Captain Ivan Rostov
Rodrigo di Fuentes
Lord Owen Griffiths
Cecelia von Klausovich
Samuel Paige
Giselle Lacourt
Mädchen Berger
Gottfried Arneson
Anna Visone

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