Year of the Dragon

Story summary for Year of the Dragon:

Year of the Dragon is a sideline to the events in Throne War. The Lotus set up a diversion in 1850s China to distract the Hand and the other factions from their plans in AD69. They let slip to the other factions that a major assault is planned against Nine Dragon Temple in 1850s China. The Dragons send Tricia Kwok, Ting Ting, and Little Jim to try to derail the Lotus plans. The Ascended don't really care, but they use the opportunity to issue a challenge to the Iron Monkey, a Hand operative who has been particularly bothersome for them in the 1850s juncture. They send Draco to put an end to the Iron Monkey, and anyone else important from any faction who might show up. We learn that Sam Mallory has been having second thoughts about the Lodge; the Ascended know this and send Sam on the mission so that Draco can assess his loyalty, and remove him if necessary. Homo Omega ensures that the Buro isn't aware of the festivities, and leads a private capture squad to the Temple, since his personal plans require a demon of major stature.

Tricia Kwok and Little Jim take out Four Burning Fists in a scuffle near the Temple. Little Jim is caught by the Architects capture squad led by Homo Omega; Tricia tries to bust him loose but is outgunned by the cyborg left behind to guard Jim. Wong Fei Hong intervenes on his way to defend the Temple, taking out the cyborg and leaving Tricia to help Jim.

At the Temple, Draco begins single combat with the Iron Monkey. Ting Ting arrives and tries to join the fight, but is held off by Sam Mallory. The fight is interrupted when the Thing with a 1000 Tongues is summoned on the Temple grounds and all hell breaks loose as Lotus demons battle Hand monks.

Homo Omega and the capture squad show up and try to capture the Thing. Wong Fei Hong also shows up, and tries to kill the Thing. Homo Omega succeeds, but the Thing is badly wounded, and so is Wong Fei Hong. Omega takes the wounded Thing through a Netherworld gate. Tricia and Jim show up and help Ting Ting, Sam, and Wong Fei Hong leave the battlefield.

This story summary was written by Stefan Vincent, and can originally be found on his website, here.