Cao Wuji
Victim NPC
The Gold-Coffer Magnate: the feared buyer who built his name ruining rivals, and the man the whole room came to out-bid. Loud, imperious, and used to being obeyed. Found dead without a mark in a private alcove that was…
Murder Party · ready to clone
Last Bid at the Vermilion Pavilion
A scenario by Murder Maker
- Theft
- Fraud
- Money
- Power
- Mystery
- Revenge
- Vendetta
The premise
When a lot rare enough surfaces, the Vermilion Treasure Pavilion lowers its mist-bridge and gathers the jianghu's richest outsiders to bid on the Soulflame Lantern — and to face the man they all fear: Cao Wuji, the Gold-Coffer Magnate. The house rule is iron: no qi, no blade, no blood. Then the lanterns dim, and when they rise the Magnate lies dead in an alcove that was never his seat — no wound, only an emptied cup of tea. One evening, 11 players plus a game master: trade secrets and bids, and name the hand that killed in a sealed hall. A wuxia murder mystery where everyone wanted him gone.
The cast
Old Liang
Detective
The Pavilion's stooped old tea-server, who pours for the east gallery and says little. Easy to overlook, unfailingly courteous, and somehow always nearby when a cup runs dry.
Pavilion Master Qiao Wanglin
Suspect
Master and host of the Vermilion Pavilion - and the man NOT in his seat: the private west alcove where the Magnate died is Qiao's own reserved place; he never reached it tonight. Only his hand works the mist-bridge…
Hostess Lan Yiruo
Suspect
The Voice of the Gavel - the hostess who ALONE prepares and serves the private west-alcove tea. An alluring bid-broker every faction courted tonight; gracious, quick-tongued, and devoted to the house that raised her.
Merchant heir Du Jinhai
Suspect
An over-leveraged trade-clan scion in fine silks: pure money, no martial weight, and visibly sweating tonight. He has been courting the hostess and eyeing the crown lot like a drowning man eyes a rope.
Bai Heng, the Sword-in-the-Mist
Suspect
A grim, solitary figure bidding through a hired proxy, face half-hidden. Speaks little, watches everything, and stands too still for a mere buyer.
Envoy Sairan of the Drifting Khanates
Suspect
A foreign envoy and outland diplomat-buyer, coolly composed, backed by a treasury the jianghu cannot match. She wants the Lantern for her sovereign and does little to hide it - and negotiates even the smallest…
Consignor Shen Ke
Suspect
The consignor of record for the Soulflame Lantern: a nervous, sweating front-man who flinches every time authentication is mentioned. Keeps close to the rostrum and closer to the exits.
Cao Yingying
Suspect
The Magnate's sharp-eyed daughter, who keeps his ledgers and rarely leaves his side. Composed even in grief, and already counting who owes the House of Cao.
Appraiser Ru Feng
Suspect
The Pavilion's appraiser of record and self-styled master judge of relics - vain, precise, and hungry to be seen authenticating the crown lot on the rostrum tonight.
Broker Wen Zhuo
Suspect
A smiling fixer and information-broker who arranges proxies, brokers bids, and always seems to know the one thing you'd pay to keep quiet. Everyone's friend and no one's ally.
Xiaodie
Witness
The lantern-gallery apprentice: a soft-spoken young servant devoted to the hostess, forever trimming wicks and carrying trays. Nervous tonight, and eager to please.
Intrigues
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The Bankrupt's GambitTheft
One bidder has already lost everything. What is left to lose?
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The Crown Lot's True FaceFraud
The realm's richest have crossed a sky-bridge to bid on one lantern. What if the lantern is a lie?
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The Empty CofferMoney
The Gold-Coffer name still empties a room. But is there anything left inside it?
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The Foreclosure at DawnPower
When the gavel falls at dawn, does the floating house fall with it?
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The Hidden Master at the Tea-TableMystery
No qi, no blade, no blood - the Pavilion's oldest promise. So how did a man die?
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The Ruin of the Lan WrightsRevenge
A craft-house burned a decade past. Tonight its ghost has crossed the mist-bridge.
-
Two Blades for One ThroatVendetta
Some buyers came for the lantern. Some came for a life.
Factions & circles
- House of CaoFamily
- The Bidders' CircleFaction
- The Lan Lantern-Wrights (fallen)Other
- The Vermilion Pavilion HouseStaff
Last Bid at the Vermilion Pavilion
When a lot rare enough surfaces, the Vermilion Treasure Pavilion lowers its mist-bridge and gathers the jianghu's richest outsiders to bid on the Soulflame Lantern — and to face…
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