Lord of a Fief Quest [Xianxia/Western Fantasy Fusion, CK2-ish]

You smiled and replied, "I accept."

Ka Rushan smiled and offered his hand you shook it.

Business concluded the two of you moved onto small talk until your time was up and the heir to the Ka Clan left with a smile on his face. It was good you had not caused an incident, diplomacy had never been your strong suit.

Your cousin, Bai Chenshen, had moved onto his third bowl of curry, it seemed he enjoyed it and was more interested in the food than the company. It was something you noted down for later, for if curry was all it took to keep the commander of your military happy then curry he will have. You were glad you had family that was so easy to please.

The next guest to visit you was Tong Jin, a fiery duelist known for his skill with violence. He, too, came dressed to you in a warriors leathers for he was always prepared for a tussle. It is what you expected of a man from a clan with such a violent reputation. There was no great formations or other indications it was a spirit treasure but, he was not the heir so such things would have to be bought with his own coin. Coin he clearly lacked. He carried a scroll as he approached your gazebo, clearly eager to part with it.

He bowed to you with the bare minimum depth that was allowed. It was a loss of face in front of your cousin to accept that and a less humble Lord would challenge a man for such an insult. You, however, knew it was an intentional provocation from a duelist who outclassed your skills. So you did not react and simply nodded in the man's direction and said, "Greetings Tong Jin, I am pleased to see you this evening. How was your journey?"

Tong Jin looked slightly annoyed at the fact you did not react to his provocation, it seemed you had a viper in your midst. It was not simply habitual arrogance that had resulted in the provocation but some deeper game, a friendship with the Zhou perhaps? They both had an interest in the power of Fire after all. Common ground they could build upon.

The insolent man moved a chair in front of you and sat down, as if you were equals who sat across the dinner table. That was another provocation and did not bode well for your relationship. You ignored it and accepted the loss of face, as much as it pained you to do so.

Tong Jin smiled at you and said, "I have brought you a copy of the recipe for Firewine, a valuable cultivation aid for those who seek to cultivate Fire-based techniques. I figured your Clan could have your Alchemists make products more amenable to cultivators of my persuasion."

He then offered you the scroll.

You took it, of course. Knowledge had its uses even if this was a present more for himself and his clan than it was to you. Another insult you would have to tolerate.

Tong Jin nodded and said, "I believe that concludes our business, good day."

You returned the nod and watched him march off to his own gazebo. It seemed you could not rely on the Tong clan's support. Unfortunate but good to know.

Bai Chenshen dutifully returned the chair to its original position on your left, as things should be. He then returned to his chair on your right and resumed his devotion to all things curry. That brought a smile to your face.

Han Xin was your next guest, a talented cultivator and the second son of the Han Clan. He came to you dressed in flowing white robes, a scholar or an administrator's attire, which you did not expect from his fearsome reputation on the battlefield.
You could tell he was muscular under his robes but more wiry than Ka Rushan, as one would expect from the differences in focus. He moved with preternatural grace across the grass until he reached your gazebo and stepped into it. Grace that you, as a cultivator with a focus on wood, could only envy. Perhaps you should investigate techniques of Heaven? People did say you had Heaven's own luck after all.

He smiled at you and took a deep bow, far deeper than was truly necessary. It was a show of humility that was refreshing after your experience with Jin.

You returned the smile and said, "Greetings Han Xin of the fabled Han Clan. How was your journey?"

He rose and took the seat to your left, as was tradition, and replied, "Lord Bai, my journey was comfortable. I summoned a pleasant breeze to keep the heat at bay. The Imperial Highways are well patrolled so there was no trouble and your people were quite welcoming in the villages along the way, I'm grateful for their hospitality. Commoners should know their place but Nobles should be gracious in their treatment of them, don't you agree?"

You nodded, "Commoners should be treated well, for the strong should protect the weak. That said, I agree they should remain in their place and not grow uppity as some in the East have done with their rebellions against Imperial Authority."

As you talked you noted that Han Xin's eyes were a glorious, sea-green. An odd color but it looked good on him in contrast with his pale skin.

Han Xin replied, "Indeed. The Lord in the East have their work cut out for them with that lot. Have you ever been to the Imperial Court?"

"No, I have never had the pleasure."

Han Xin smiled and said, "It would be my pleasure to host you, particularly if you go there to look for a wife. I know many eligible ladies looking for a proper husband to settle down with."

Left unsaid was the fact Han Xin had probably sampled all of them. You returned the smile and said, "A generous offer but one I must decline, I'm afraid my duties as Lord of Bloodthorn Valley strand me in this backwater, far from the heart of Imperial Power. It is why I must rely on friends like you to handle matters at Court."

Han Xin replied, "Indeed. If only I had caught your last birthday party, perhaps you would have been free to mingle then. Alas. I suppose you at least have two lovely ladies dressed to find a husband visiting you tonight, so that must be a balm."

You chuckled and replied, "Aye, it is nice when interesting women come to you."

The two of you continued to chat for a time about nothing in particular. The Han's gift to you was a talisman of healing that would help you survive assassination attempts or poisons. A thoughtful gift and one you promised yourself you would wear, always.

No vote this time.

Your next, and final, guest was Myeong Kimora, the third daughter of the infamous Myeong clan. She came to you in a modest white dress in the Hanfu style, as was common of women in the Seto region. White was a symbol of virginity as well, although that might or may not have been the reason for her choice of color. The voluminous robe itself did much to hide her curves, which you assumed to be as modest as the dress she wore. Taken as a whole, it could be taken as a statement that this was a formal matter where flirtation was to be avoided. Or it could be a statement that she was a modest, virginal woman who was looking for a husband who desired a proper wife. Women were complicated creatures and you could not be certain of which the answer was, so you decided in that moment to gamble on the latter.

She bowed deeply to you, more deeply than was truly required, once she stepped into the gazebo. The modest dress concealed her cleavage which disappointed you a little but what man would not be disappointed? Then again some women wanted to avoid being ogled by men and you had to admit, even if it was just to yourself, that you were the type to ogle. That is a third, and in your mind, final potential reason for her choice of dress.

You responded to her bow with a nod and a smile as well as at this point your signature greeting, "Greetings Myeong Kimora, welcome to Bloodthorn Valley. How was your journey?"

Myeong Kimora returned the smile and rose before she took the chair to your left, as was tradition. Once she was comfortably seated, she replied, "My Lord Bai, the journey was pleasant. My mastery of the earth leaves me immune to the vagaries of weather that might bother others. How do you find the weather, Lord Bai?"

You replied casually, "Oh, I find Summer in the Seto Region a bit hot and humid for my tastes so I think I might venture into the mountains on an adventure, seeking things that might improve the lot of Bloodthorn Valley."

A different response than you had given before but this time you intended to prolong the conversation.

She arched an eyebrow and said, "That sounds dangerous. The Tian Shen mountains are known to be home to Orcs and all sorts of Spirit Beasts. Surely that is a job for someone else?"

You nodded and answered, "I am the strongest cultivator in Bloodthorn Valley, what sort of man would I be if I was to send other men to face dangers I myself avoid? I plan to attend the defense of at least one village when the raiding season begins as well."

She nodded and replied, "An honorable sentiment, Lord Bai, if a dangerous one for a young lord who is far from the sixth rank one normally possesses when he is assigned such a post. I understand one seeks to appoint family to every important post but surely your father could have waited a few decades to give you this Valley? It might have tempered your adventurism."

You shrugged at that, you still prayed the situation for the Bai clan was not as bad as it appeared to be and replied, "Lady Myeong, the recent unrest within the family is no secret and my father had to take certain risks with appointments to avoid other risks. It is all one big, calculated risk when one plays the game of thrones. I just hope I was the good kind of risk."

"I suppose that is all we can hope for when one's parents assigns one a duty. That we live up to the task and perform it both successfully and honorably."

She paused for a moment and said, "Lord Bai, are you interested in Nae Fang? She certainly dressed to impress you."

You shrugged at that, it was not like you could fail to notice such an attractive woman in immodest dress and you did enjoy the view. You took a moment to mull over the best way to answer the question.

"No. She is very attractive and I was certainly impressed by her interest but her clan lacks the connections I need given the situation I am in."

She looked at you for a moment before she replied, "And what situation do you find yourself in, Lord Bai?"

"You know what I contacted your family for. The Zhou and the Bai find themselves, yet again, in conflict. I need a reliable ally that provides the tools to prevail and so I would prefer a wife with the right connections and the right mindset over a beautiful body."

She arched an eyebrow and said, "I see, Lord Bai. Many men would prefer beauty to substance but I am glad you are more interested in the latter. As for your situation, I suppose we have been one of the Bai clan's staunchest allies and you have our support, regardless of whether there was a marriage or not. We do not abandon our allies in their moment of need, unlike some Clans."

"Lady Myeong, I would not propose marriage to a woman whose family would abandon me without it. Marriage is not a tool of barter, like spirit stones or offers of troops on the battlefield. Marriage is a commitment by two people to a shared path and it is more important that both parties seek the same goals than it is to purchase something with that marriage. One can also find new allies, new opportunities through marriage if I was to use it as a tool to strengthen the Bai clan at the expense of myself."

She looked thoughtful at your words, as if making a decision on something before she replied, "And what are your goals, Lord Bai? Or are those a secret?"

You shrugged at that, the truth was you had not planned beyond the current year. Your life had changed too drastically for your previous, more modest plans to be truly appropriate plans. So you went with simple, safe goals that were nevertheless ambitious. You said, "Lady Myeong, my first and primary goal is to deal with the Zhou situation. They are too dangerous to be ignored. Second to that, to find a wife that I could love and could love me in return. Afterwards, I suppose I dream of the same thing every cultivator dreams of which is to obtain the fiftieth rank and the Immortality that comes with it. And ideally, a wife who could achieve the same Immortality so that we could be together always. And you, Lady?"

She was quick to reply, "A man who loves me for who I am, not a womanizer only interested in the pleasures of the flesh. Immortality, of course. And most importantly a prosperous family, including many children, that I honor with my deeds."

You nodded and said simply, "I could accept that in a wife, Lady Myeong."

She nodded and said, "Shall we begin a correspondence then? I am not one to rush such things and you are in the middle of a conflict you might lose and with it, any chance of a happy marriage."

You smiled and replied, "I would like that."

The Myeong's gift was not a physical thing but a bargain. They would not take their usual cut of the fee for the Village Hidden in the Mountain's services when it came to the Zhou. The Zhou were a mutual enemy as far as they were concerned. It was both a valuable gift and a self interested one. But then again, what else could one expect from the Myeong? They sold poisons and did nefarious deeds for the right price.


[ ] Continue the Survey and roll for the next 3 locations.

[ ] Explore into the Mountains and discover what lies beyond your borders.

Note: Whichever you choose will have a slight advantage as it will be completed before raiding season begins. The other one will occur during raiding season.

The party concluded, you left Toril once more with your retinue in tow. Your destination was the village of Jiaju, a minor village like the rest. They served their purpose supporting a cultivator, a knight, to defend them and the fief from things deemed too dangerous for common swords. They would feast you and your retinue, as was just and expected, and provide housing for their Lord and his closest advisers. The knights and common troops would need to reside in a camp outside the village proper but that too was proper. You were there betters and you deserved good housing.

Once your visit to Jiaju was concluded, you ventured into the rural wilderness to its south. You were curious what resided there, what your ancestors who stuck to the roads with their stone idols of protection might have missed. The first day was uneventful, just a horse ride you on open grass with a view of a sheep and their shepherds. Your people established an orderly camp with rows of tents, the commoners on the outside, the knights in the middle, and you in the very center of the camp. It was to give the best protection possible, as was rightfully yours as their Lord.

You woke in your tent to the sound of a man's scream. It seemed something was about. You dressed hurriedly in your robes of office, once more wishing that you had a proper spirit treasure to protect your flesh for even qi hardened flesh had its limits in battle. A spirit beast that favored fire could set you alight and there would be little you could do to stop them, given your relatively slow speed.

Shouts of men readied for battle reached your ears as you exited your tent and felt the warm, humid night air surround you once more. In a village of tents lit solely by the light of a half moon, all directions looked the same so you relied on sound to guide you. The largest commotion seemed to come from the north of the camp so you chose that direction and ran with, unfortunately, mere human speed. You needed to confront the threat now that you were roused and protect your men, as a Lord should.

Row after row of dark tents gave way to open grassland as you approached the edge of the camp. Common soldiers had formed a battle line in front of you, javelins at the ready as they faced something. That something tore into the battle line one man at a time. Limbs were tossed into the air as the monster assaulted your men.

You hardened your flesh with the Ironwood Fortress and vaulted over the line of soldiers that separated you from the monster. As you did so, you noticed several of your knights do the same. Their qi-enhanced muscles allowing them to leap a dozen feet into the air as if it was nothing. That was good, you would not do battle against this monster alone.

You caught sight of it when you were in midair. It was an unnatural, monstrous thing with four clawed arms and a face that opened like lotus petals lined with row after row of teeth. The creatures had two legs which clawed into the earth, leaving claw marks in the soft dirt. Its flesh had an oily sheen to it beneath the blood from your soldiers. You recognized it as something that should not be. An Outsider. And you immediately realized you were in a bad situation. Outsiders were unnatural, otherworldly creatures not bound by natural law. Some were cunning cultivators, others mindless beasts. You had no idea what this thing was.

You landed inches from its petal-like jaws as they snapped closed in a failed attempt to bite you. It seemed whatever it was, it had no eyes to speak of and was relying on sound or some other sense to track people's positions.

Shen of Hunan was the first to land after you and immediately unleashed hell. He hurled a massive fireball at the creature. It whooshed through the air only to vanish inches from the monster's flesh. It seemed the creature had some sort of preternatural shield in place against projectile attacks.

The other knights landed on their feet a moment later.

The creature screamed and it sounded like nails against a chalkboard but worse somehow. You felt blood trickle out of your ears and heard a dozen common soldiers fall to the ground in screaming in agony. Your Knights held their ground at least, small favors.

You charged the creature and it swiped at you with a clawed arm. You raised your arm to block it and felt a twinge of pain as the creature's claws scored thin, papercut like lines on your arm.

The creature turned to fully face you then, all snapping jaws and raking claws.

You could not dodge its blows, only block them with your arms. It was preternaturally fast, simply too fast for you to evade. Each blow created more painful papercuts on your arms, on your body, on your legs. It would be death by a thousand cuts if you simply continued to stand your ground against the creature. So you took a swing at it and it simply moved out of the way.

Your knights moved in to join you. Some wielded fire or air and moved with speed to match the beast but their blows were flimsy things that barely scratched the creature. Others were slow, wielding earth or wood or water and found the creature dodging their blows with ease.

This was bad.

However, for all its speed there was a limit to how many ways it could dodge the blows of ten qi-enhanced men in battle. From time to time, your blows found purchase on its body and when it did you could hear the crack of bone splintering and what sounded like a scream of pain from the beast.

It was just a question of endurance and that was one thing wood cultivators were known for.

Unfortunately, many of your knights were not.

One by one your knights began to drop from exhaustion as the creature wore them down, common soldiers dragging them to safety behind their ragged battle line.

The battle raged until only you and the monster remained, both of your qi heavily depleted by the battle.

It was then the creature simply turned and fled, clearly not willing to gamble its life.

You estimated it was a 4th rank spirit beast and a powerful, predatory one at that.

The night continued and you did your best to rest in your tent while Bai Chenshen saw to the men. Your wounds were not serious but they were numerous, leaving you lying on your sleeping roll in discomfort rather than getting a proper night's sleep. That was bad if that thing came back for a second round, you were exhausted and down several knights while it would likely fully recover in a day or two.


In the morning you sent out cavalry scouts to try to find the creature or at least where it came from while you rested. You were in no condition for another fight like that.

You sent the wounded to Toril to recuperate and sent a small cavalry escort to accompany them. You were relatively certain they would travel beyond the creature's hunting grounds before night fell.

The dead were burned in a pyre, as tradition dictated for fallen warriors. It was a way to release one's qi into the wild without allowing a person's spirit core from falling into potential enemy hands.

Your cavalry scouts returned with dire news. It seemed there was a small jungle to the south of your position but it was a corrupted, decaying thing and at its center was a red, glowing gash in the air. It seemed the creature had come through from the Outside and there was a semi-permanent, or worse, permanent portal to its realm within your domain. That was bad. Who knows how many of those monsters might wander into your lands looking for a snack.

That settled it, you withdrew from where you estimated its hunting grounds to be so you could recuperate.

[ ] Summon Adventurers to do battle with the Beast. (400 Silver, success uncertain. Rank 4 spirit beasts were stronger than your average adventurer)
[ ] Summon Adventurers to do battle with the Beast and support them with yourself and your Knights. (400 Silver, success uncertain ... it may just leave you so exhausted it can easily escape again. )
[ ] Leave the situation alone and have cavalry scouts stationed around where you estimated the hunting ground to be to warn settlements if the creature ventured forth. (-20 Retinue to used as permanent scouts)