Manuel pressed his fingertips against his skull. Things had not gone as he had hoped.
The problem with war boiled down to this: while he had technically won, and the Devil Bees had made no more moves, the damage to the Clan's command structure would make them far easier prey than he would've liked in the upcoming Trials.
Time to do what they could. The last Trials had been disastrous, losing a third of the Clan's cultivators. Still, in their current condition, they could probably hope for no better.
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There are basically four Mechanics in this quest.
(1) Choices. Your Clan Council will ask you to make a call on something. Mostly they won't do this - they're competent enough to handle things on their own, but sometimes they will. You'll see 0-2 of these per turn, on average. They're usually pretty straight-up binary choices.
(2) Focuses. You choose in general what the Clan should focus on for the next 20 years. Building up for war? Training new disciples? Carving more arrays? More trade? Focuses don't prevent you from doing everything else, it's more 'here's the one thing we should really get done'. Focuses are mainly mediated by your personal skill levels and specialities.
(3) Actions. What you, personally, do. Usually mediated by skills, but often by Cultivation level - especially when it comes to combat. You can always Write In Actions. In fact, writing in more complex and well-thought out Actions will positively increase your chances of success.
(4) Purchases. What wealth the Clan has, and what your Council want you to spend it on. They'll usually come to you with the thing they want most. No micromanagement, just 'here is the big-ticket item I want'. These will often (but not always) persist between turns. Wealth is expressed in terms of Years of Income Saved. You can take as many of these as you can pay for! Keep in mind, though, if you spend all your money, you won't have it in future for dire situations.
All voting is Plan Voting. Make a Plan if you want, or just vote on someone else's! You can vote on as many Plans as you like! Approval Voting, baby!
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There is a Voting Moratorium for TWELVE HOURS after this post. Feel free to create plans, but votes for plans will not be counted until that time has passed.
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Manuel walked into the now-expanded clan headquarters. Three tables, each offering new protections against mental effects and poisons. It made it a little easier to check his Elders for mental corruption and subtle poisons without potentially activating them. He had been exhausted these past twenty years, and made little enough progress in his cultivation. No chairs again, but this was due to an assassination attempt where a Jingshen Clan trader had sold them a Two Thousand Year Spirit Ironoak Branch to forge into chairs, but had secretly poisoned it with a Qi-dispersing poison at Nascent Soul level. Nothing deadly, but simply capable of weakening his upper echelons. If they'd sat on those chairs for years they might have lost an entire stage of cultivation each.
Almost certainly a move from Old Jingshen, testing the waters after his show of weakness in front of Lady Jiao. He'd responded in kind, with a Eyesocket Wasp hidden inside a lamp as a gift, which to the eye looked like a Qi-enhancing Treasure. When lit, it consumed the Qi of the cultivator and produced more wasps, each seeking to eat the eyes of cultivators. They'd survive, but be drastically weakened for decades.
This had gone poorly for Old Jingshen, who had the poor luck of having a greedy Core Formation Elder attempt to use it to boost his personal branch of the family without having it properly checked first. Last he heard almost five hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators had been blinded, eyes eaten out by voracious wasps - and the cost to heal them would be significant.
He'd sent a letter containing his condolences of course, and thanking him for the beautiful Ironoak Branch.
Hopefully the message would be sufficiently clear.
Around stood his Councillors, each a skilled and valuable piece on the gameboard. They worked poorly together, one of their number having died. Integrating so quickly was no easy task, and the new Protostrator had no time to work well with his fellows. The new Elder of War was extremely competent, but old - managing a military needed to safeguard tens of millions of people with a decimated upper command was extraordinarily difficult, especially with a conflict against a superior enemy coming up soon.
"Report."
Manuel's voice was like a hundred small wind chimes forged from brass, and groaned at the end of his word, the sharpness of the 't' like snapping swords. These Elders knew the process now, but were uneasy, wary of the war to come.
First was Euphrosyne Sarantapechos, a Great Circle Core Formation Elder. She had broken through over forty years ago, and was a valuable combat resource as well as the Clan's best hope at a new Nascent Soul. She was Stratopedarches, or in more common terms, the Elder of Administration. To her fell the duties of managing mines, herbs, cities, camps - all manner of resources flowed through her hands. In the last twenty years she had spent much time developing her medicines, preparing as many measures as might be prepared to help save her juniors. To Manuel's mind, she was the first Core Formation Elder he had seen in two centuries who had even a slight chance of breaking through to Nascent Soul. A tremendous talent.
"Archegetes. Obviously in terms of wealth things have gone reasonably well. We have twenty-one full years of income saved. I would recommend not overspending, we will require much wealth to recover after the Trials."
Second was Kleisthenes Sarantapechos, a Mid Core Formation Elder. Euphrosyne's twin sister, though less talented in cultivation. She cultivated a rare Yang attribute technique, and went by a male name, and wore a male body to aid in her cultivation. For her, if she had not cultivated her Yang technique - she never would have risen into Core Formation. Such a thing was uncommon among your Clan, but not unknown. She is the Hetaireiarches, or in common terms, the Elder of Diplomacy. To her fell the duties of managing external powers and other Nascent Souls. She often complained about her lack of talent, and she and Manuel were reasonable friends. Of late she had begun to recover their old friendship, one before he had become Archegetes. They had not fallen out, but spent less time with one another - in the twenty years preceding and after the Trials there was little time for friendship.
"Archegetes. I am unsure of whether this is a good idea, but... Strength Purity Sect is offering an exchange. In return for a cessation on their tolls to the healing Oasis in Jingshen territory for sixty years, they are offering a large number of resources to the Flood Dragon Gang, and are willing to stand guard over one of their Core Formation cultivators who is looking to potentially step into Nascent Soul. Unofficially, of course. Officially we will be forced to give a little face against their strength, and afterwards they will assist their honorable Flood Dragon allies against the Demonic monsters for an unrelated reason."
[ ] Accept the Deal
Will reduce income by 1-3 Wealth per turn for 3 turns (amount depends on the War). 20% chance of a Flood Dragon Gang Early Nascent Soul emerging next turn.
[ ] Reject the Deal
No change.
"Firstly, the Demonic Altar attacked and looted the core strength of the Gemstone Justice Sect, seizing massive wealth. After this, however, Strength Purity Sect has won a significant series of battles against the Demonic Altar, but has a great many wounded. While this is usually the case in these wars and we expect Strength Purity Sect to win the vast majority of the battles, they have done better than expected. Demonic Altar Sect has been retreating on all fronts after their assault on Gemstone Justice, though the war is a very long way from over. It is hard to know how their newfound wealth will impact things. Noble Knowledge Sect tried to break the Poison-Crushing Siege, but this was a trick. They slew over a hundred thousand cultivators from the Poison-Crushing Siege, mostly from the Bear Enslavement Sect. The reinforcements for Strength Purity Sect are growing less."
Third was Nikephoros Theophylaktos, a Great Circle Core Formation Elder. He is a simple man to all appearances, speaking little. He is the Parakoimomenos, or in common terms, the Elder of Intrigue. You had trained him personally, and found his skills acceptable. Previously you held his position, but he is now quite experienced at the task. Though he had been your assistant for almost a century, he has begun to assert his own way of doing things. To him falls the duties of espionage, sabotage, and assassination. While he was your apprentice, you are building a new friendship where a master and disciple relationship once existed.
"Archegetes. Incredibly productive. The Devil Bees are in a civil war, as the returning cultivators are set upon by the majority faction who remain, those bloodied by war fighting the fatter and lazier cultivators in higher positions. Two Nascent Souls oversee the war, but they permit it within certain bounds. Already fifty thousand are dead, and that number might go as high as three hundred thousand before order is restored. Normally such wars last for forty to eighty years, which is to our advantage. However, once they fight and consolidate I expect a more unified Devil Bee Sect to begin raids en masse, though more likely in the south than to us. I have news on Lady Jiao, as well. She has negotiated to use a Core Formation Elder from the Saber Palace as a cultivation cauldron - a non-Blood Path form where she merely drains Qi and he survives - but it should enhance her progress considerably, due to immense compatibility in their bloodlines. I believe I can have him killed if you desire as he passes through our lands."
[ ] Kill Him
Almost certain to succeed given your information, though even with your Dao of Darkness bent upon the matter to hide it you may be found out. Only a ~20% chance, you estimate, but if you are discovered Lady Jiao will wreak vengeance upon your lands proportionally. You can expect to lose fifty or sixty thousand cultivators before she is satiated in such a case - or have to pay perhaps twenty or so years of Clan income as reparations.
[ ] Let Him Live
More dangerous in the long-term, as it strengthens Jingshen Clan, but no risk of massive retaliation now.
Fourth came Staurakios Palaiologos, a Late Core Formation Elder. He is Chartoularios Tou Kanikleiou, or in simpler terms, the Master of Disciples. He picks out good seeds, gives training and assistance, and manages the core of the Clan Contribution Board for Qi Condensation and Foundation Building disciples in times of peace. Lately, he has been complaining about the foolishness of all the new disciples, though you can tell he is happier than he has been in decades.
"Archegetes. Numbers on track to reach full capacity by the Trials. Little more to say."
Lastly was Heraclius Staurakius, a Great Circle Core Formation Elder. He is Protostrator, leader of your armies. One of your precious Core Formation cultivators in the Great Circle, Heraclius has stalled cultivation-wise. He is an exceptional commander, but he is old. At 900, he will only be capable of command for another 80 years or so. He is the best commander available by a significant margin, and the most experienced, but taking him on as a commander will mean replacing him before too long - discontinuity of command is where the Legions are the weakest. In the short-term, though, he is the best available to you - a little more skilled than Aikaterine was, even.
Heraclius speaks, a gravelled voice coming from a throat that had been cut more than once.
"Archegetes. I am coming to terms with military command of the Clan. I cannot possibly allow any operations beyond preparing for the Trials unless the matter is desperate. I could conduct them, but the weakness..."
You run your tongue over your teeth and think.
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Currently the Clan has 21 Wealth.
The Clan saves 7 Wealth per turn (+2 from last turn. +1 from new tariffs for wounded cultivators travelling to the Jingshen Oasis, +1 from new territories being developed).
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What should the Clan focus on?
[ ] Building Bridges (Write-in target) - You should make more allies. Choose a target on the map and aim to have their relations with you increased. Give gifts, exchange assistance, aim for strategic marriages.
[ ] Intrigue (Write-in target) - You should learn about another clan entirely. Spend Spirit Stones like water in the plains and find out everything you can. Strengths. Weaknesses, places to strike, rebels, and so on and so forth.
[ ] Raiding (Write-in target) - Better to weaken an enemy. Send teams of cultivators to go raid an enemy for resources and to kill them where possible. Minor conflicts, with minor rewards. At best, you can seize minor territorial gains. This will worsen your relations, of course. Gains widely variable Wealth (0-10, excluding crits). May seize territory and gain Income in extreme cases. Loses Cultivators - around 5,000 Qi Condensation cultivators, 50 Foundation Establishment cultivators, and potentially 1 Core Formation Elder.
[ ] War (Write-in target) - Simply invade. Strike with all your might and seize territory. Kill cultivators. Requires your personal attention to prevent Nascent Souls simply obliterating your forces. Uses your personal Action for the turn. War will open a set of new sub-turns.
[ ] Increasing Wealth - More trade, more mines, more growth. Aim to find more Spirit Stones, tax more from traders, whatever works to increase your Clan Wealth. Increases Wealth by an average of 5.
[ ] Training Soldiers - Raising Disciples to higher Realms is all well and good, but training them to be perfect members of Formations is better. Ensure your Clan is trained and ready for war. Your readiness to go to war will increase significantly, though this fades over time.
[ ] Fortifying (Write-in territory, ally or vassal) - Spend Clan manpower and soldiers to build new fortifications against outside enemies. New Arrays, help train new cultivators in lesser Formations to defend their lands, and so on. Will also strengthen a vassal or ally if chosen, and increase relations with them. Increases defenses in the chosen territory, ally, or vassal.
[ ] Write-in
What will you do?
[ ] Hunt An Enemy (Write-In) - Why not? Hunt down enemies, see if you can kill someone. Usually used against an opposing Nascent Soul. Potentially very dangerous.
[ ] Weaken An Enemy (Write-In Faction) - Choose a faction, and use your Nascent Soul strength to simply sneak in and do damage. A little underhanded and shameful, but what do you care for the views of the Righteous Path? Potentially dangerous.
[ ] Assist A Faction (Write-in Faction) - Use your personal strength to assist an ally of some kind. Potentially dangerous.
[ ] Economic Activity - Carve arrays, scribe useful cultivation techniques onto scrolls, hunt down useful opportunities that might be dangerous to a Core Formation Elder. Make some money for the Clan.
[ ] Lecturing - You can simply lecture your many juniors on cultivation. Spend your time helping them grow, using less resources and ensuring better growth for the Clan.
[ ] Write-in
Purchases:
We have twenty-one full years of income (21 Wealth) saved. The Clan cannot go into debt - you can only spend what you have!
Euphrosyne Sarantapechos wants to...
[ ] Invest in Lifesaving Pills (7 Wealth)
"Archegetes, buy Spirit Herbs, forge pills. Give every disciple we can a pill of healing, of concealment, what we can. Improve their chances of surviving the Trials uncrippled. It won't help our weakest, but is likely to preserve our stronger disciples."'
Kleisthenes Sarantapechos wants to...
[ ] Build up the Scorpion Road (5 Wealth)
"Archegetes, with another Demon-Annihilating War beginning, we are well off to make friends with the Righteous powers who do not overmuch hate us. Making the Scorpion Road more accessible will increase our income in future, but will also allow us to facilitate trade with a grateful Strength Purity Sect. Given they are the ones who must approve any Righteous expedition through the mountains against us, their goodwill is most valuable. Despite the war coming, I believe this is still a useful longterm strategy and will win us immense goodwill if we assist the Strength Purity Sect with their request in regards to tariffs.'
Nikephoros Theophylaktos wants to...
[ ] Stir up the Devil Bees (5 Wealth)
"With money, hired Blood Path cultivators, and cleverness in picking the right targets, we can extend the Devil Bee civil war. Moreover, if we pay for attacks on hives and bee swarms, we can reduce their ability to tame bees and maintain their mount numbers even if they kill one another. It is of no use to the upcoming trials, but will win us room afterwards."
Staurakios Palaiologos wants to...
[ ] Purchase Broken Eight-Hundred and Eighty-Hundred Technique Cultivation Palace (20 Wealth)
"Archegetes, a rare opportunity has arisen. The Demonic Altar Sect seized a Cultivation Palace from Gemstone Justice Sect, selling to Gao Clan who sold to Yuan Clan. Yuan Clan have no use for it, apparently. Such a Palace can find techniques suited to almost every disciple, helping them forward. This palace is broken, and can only assist Qi Condensation juniors. However, this will offer them new techniques to practice alongside their Formation arts, and will improve their combat power by no insignificant amount. I would wager this would improve the strength of our Qi Condensation juniors outside of mass combat to equal other Sects and Clans, though it would not impact those above that level. Such a permanent increase in our power, however small, is difficult to come by."
Heraclius Staurakius wants to...
[ ] Purchase Formation Plates (5 Wealth)
"Archegetes, I aim to purchase many formation plates and arrays, fortifying key locations more strongly - within the bounds of the Trials. Such fortifications have proven useful in delaying our hunters before, and while they will likely not save the lives of our brave sacrifices in those cities, they will buy time for more disciples to live."
