Hmmph... this junior is a good seed [Cultivation Management Quest]

Head-quarters: Waycastle Taurus

The XCVI Legion is based out of Waycastle Taurus - owned and run by the family of the same name. Formed around a powerful Spirit Oasis, the castle supports a mortal population of two hundred thousand and the qi generated by this strange oasis is used to power the legion's powerful defensive arrays that protects the waycastle and it's people. Their most powerful and well-known defence is the Labyrinth that surrounds the city. It is a maze woven from blood-forged bronze threads that are run through giant stationery pillars that seem as if they are formed from thousands of tiny needles, each with a string travelling through it. The strings constantly change and readjust, causing the path through the labyrinth to change.

A cohort of diviners known as the Way-Finders are dedicated entirely to finding the path through and guiding people in and out of the maze. Without their aid, a person could wander through the maze's depths for years before finding a way out - that is if they survive the other traps and automatons that have been placed upon the maze's path. When under a siege, the legate and skilled centurions can take total control of the maze and shift it according to their whims to actively waylay their enemies and turn the passively defensive walls into razor-sharp threads that can slice through a foundation establishment cultivator and even harm a Core.

The qi of the spirit oasis and that of the legionnaires can be channeled into the maze, awakening ancient defences and powerful spirits that sleep inside. With a Core Formation cultivator present, it can twist space and time to harm their enemies or in one case, hide the waycastle entirely by making it seem like it wasn't there. Should a group of Core Formation specialists be present or perhaps a Nascent Soul channel their power into it, they can activate it's greatest defences such as the Automaton Taurus - the Lord of the Labyrinth who was forged from the remains of the same Nascent Soul Beast that gave the family its name.

Entry to the waycastle is restricted both in and out. Teams of wayfinders guide cultivators both in and out as necessary but the mortals that remain within the castle can often never see the outside world for generations unless seeking to become an aspirant.

Legion Structure:

The XCVI Legion's basic structure has already been covered in previous reports but in reminder: The Legion often acts as an extension to the Taurus family and recruits heavily from their own family and territories. There is an increased cost when requisitioning related personnel to discourage nepotism but the legion is able to bear that cost due to an internal tithe structure that exists exactly for this purpose.

The Legate of the XCVI Legion and the Matriarch or Patriarch of the Taurus Family are traditionally the same and their chosen successor who is known as the Heir is also designated Acting Legate should the Legate be absent or otherwise indisposed. The legion is focused on a variety of traditional roles each assigned to a particular cohort.

The details of the cohorts are given below:

First to Fifth Cohort -

These cohorts specialise Array-Engineers - specifically arrays of the type used traditionally in the clan. The original XCVI Legion consisted entirely of this and these skills were inherited when Ariadne Taurus became it's Legate and in the wake of her success, the legion became bound to her line till the present day. These cohorts contain most of the members of the legion and are responsible for the day-to-day array maintenance of much of the clan's infrastructure.

Though they are not the most glamorous of the Taurus Family's members, they are nevertheless the core of its income and prosperity.

Sixth Cohort -

This Cohort is descended from the projects of Legate Teleos who was the Legate of the legion before Ariadne Taurus. He was a crafter with the Dao of Perfection and one of his obsessions was perfection of the blood of bronze and its use in crafting and automation. Appropriately, this Cohort specialises in Bronze Smithing. The current iteration of the cohort focuses on the usage of bronze outside the body and it's safe extraction from a clan-member's body. The bronze can be alchemically modified for use in weapons, armor, clothes and creations of every sort. They have studied many of the common variations of the clan's gift and how those combinations can be changed to better serve the metal's purpose.

They can be approached for knowledge on the clan's bloodline and any maladies or aspirations thereof as well as for the crafting of equipment or automatons that is incredibly well-attuned to the clan's bloodline and qi.

Seventh Cohort -

This Cohort specialises in Ariadne Taurus' personal art - The Labyrinthian Thread. It is an elite form of battlefield array usage that requires talent in all three of combat, bronze-smithing and array-engineering. First, a user of the art must master bronze-smithing and the molding of bronze in wires and threads that can be infused with qi and used as the focus of a large variety of arts. Then they must master arrays that work with these wires and must be able to shift those arrays by changing the thread's positions at a moment's notice. Finally, they must learn to apply that to combat.

The unique traits of this art is its ability to be modified mid-combat and its ability to allow its users to synchronise their qi in a manner akin to the clan's formations. The users of this art are incredibly dangerous and can transform the very earth around them to become hostile to the enemy. They are the elites of the legion and though they are few in number, they are also the face of the legion. Every member of the Taurus Family learns this art though they may not be able to use it in battle.

Eighth Cohort -

This Cohort is dedicated to maze navigation. It was created when the Imperial Optimatoi moved to the desert and Patriarch Minos the Third began to build the defences of his waycastle in the form of the infamous Labyrinth. Every Legate since added their own batch of defences until eventually, those defences began to interfere with one another and even became dangerous to guests and the legion itself. Rather than remake it or dismantle it, the Legion created a cohort dedicated entirely to its maintenance, cataloging and navigation. Beyond the skills necessary for managing the Labyrinth, the cohort has also adopted divination to help them travel through the maze and guide others through it. After the Seventh Legion, the Wayfinders are the most famous and their name is synonymous with the Labyrinth itself.

Ninth Cohort -

The Ninth Cohort was created by Patriarch Teleos the Second who found he had a greater passion for alchemy in general over his ancestor's speciality of bronze. In what had seemingly become a tradition when a Legate with a new speciality ascended, Teleos II dedicated the ninth cohort to Alchemists. This legion is comparatively young and not particularly well-known among the clan. The Alchemists of the clan - barring their speciality in Bronze and Arrays - are only competent and don't particularly stand out in comparison to those found in the rest of the clan.

Tenth Cohort -

The Tenth Cohort was created by the late Matriarch Wilhelmina for similar reasons as Teleos II. She was initially a Way-finder who found that she had a talent and interest in divination. Upon becoming a Legate, she dedicated the Tenth Cohort to Divination. Unlike the Ninth Cohort, this one has fairly promising capabilities. This is due to the birth of several seers from Wilhelmina's bloodline and her unique approach to divination that predicts heaven's will by tracing it's curse. They have also developed methods to manipulate their fortune that relies upon the peculiarities of said curse.

It should be noted that their current future is uncertain. With the death of Wilhelmina Taurus, they have lost their driving force and with the removal of the curse weakening their foresight, their future remains uncertain.

Specialists -

The Legion also maintains a faction of Specialists who are not attached to any of the legions. They can be outsiders who were considered both loyal and promising or family who chose to pursue a non-standard skill-set. They are considered to be outside of the traditional deployment of the legion and are allowed to pursue assignments of their choosing. This was also introduced by Matriarch Wilhelmina who felt that if every Legate with a non-standard skillset created their own cohort, it would become rapidly unsustainable. As such, any who would wish to pursue these paths would simply be labelled specialists and allowed to do as they wish so long as they paid their tithe and maintained the dignity of the legion.

This has led to a larger acceptance of Auxiliaries into the legion which has caused several notable successes but also an incident where a Blood Path Foundation Establishment Expert infiltrated the clan. It is accepted that this programme has promise but should be subjected to a review to ensure that the incident was coincidence and no further vulnerabilities remain.

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"I could speak at length, Elder Sun. But you know as well as I that the Optimatoi are not given to abandoning mortals to your depredations. I could use a hundred justifications and a thousand clever lines of reasoning, but it boils down to this."

Manuel jabbed a finger over at the horizon.

"If you cross into my lands, I'll kill you. I'll kill your disciples, their disciples, and any misbegotten Blood Path animal that thinks itself worthy of preying on human beings. I'll keep killing until there's nothing left to kill, and when I'm done learning your name will be a salutary lesson to keep juniors from practicing your vile ways, nothing more."

He smiled, even more warmly.

"Am I clear?"

Old Cannibal laughed.

"Good! Good. I'll go prepare. You'll regret those words, you blind old fuck."

Manuel's smiled grew wider.

"Oh, and I understand you've little enough to eat over there. Here, with my compliments."

Corpses were difficult enough to properly hold in one's aperture, but three Core Formation elders was no small boon. Manuel was permitted to kill them - just as Old Cannibal was permitted to kill his spies in Cannibal territory. He took out two, tossing their corpses down.

"Hungry?"

Old Cannibal's laugh grew strained, and Manuel felt a secret trickle across to him. The other man was hiding a desperate sort of gladness, merely pretending to be bothered by this. The two Core Formation elders he'd hunted down and killed had been setting up major problems for his supply lines - preventing Legions being deployed effectively to the Burnished Crags and the like. The third who had kept close at hand had been doing... something to the Legionforts, that line of fortifications he'd ordered constructed across the frontier. Nothing so great as the Night Devil Fortress, but rather a scattered group of minor forts, capable of empowering weaker cultivators, enabling them to fight for extended periods of time against superior force. Each of them had a clever Spear Targeting Array, allowing the defenders to bring down spears on the enemy heads with ease if the forts were not taken, forcing any attack to smash each fort individually.

The hammer and the anvil. As long as he could provide the anvil, the Golden Devils would always prove to be a mighty hammer.

So the third who had died was unknown to him, but his death was unknown to Old Cannibal as well. Hopefully it would prove to be useful.

Old Cannibal was done, and the man turned and flew off. Manuel did likewise. The drumbeat of war was sounding again, and he knew his position to be desperate.

Any major losses would easily spiral into death by the time the next Trials rolled around. As long as the Cannibals could be held sufficiently at bay, he could lure Old Cannibal out and into a series of unfavorable fights. Once that occurred, his victory was more-or-less assured. The key was setting up that fight, ensuring his own forces were kept intact and powerful while the enemy was not able to grow by cracking open cities. Any early losses might spell doom, but as long as the tempo of war went in his favour...

Manuel frowned. He was facing the same problem the Strength Purity Sect did, only with less allies and more threats.

- - - - - - - - - -

Heraclius Staurakius had been the recipient of several treasures when he returned. Festooned with lifesaving measures, the other man was crucial for the prosecution of the war to come.

"Heraclius. Tell me of the progress in the Crags."

The second-oldest man in the Clan frowned.

"We are in better stead than I might have hoped. There are fundamentally three approaches for the Cannibals to take. Four, perhaps, but three fundamental. Firstly, they can strike into the Uncast Molds. That opens them up for a war in our core territories, however, and I doubt they're well-prepared for that. The Molds are less fortified than the Crags, but this is by design. Even if the enemy take the Molds, it is easy enough for us to reinforce them and retake them. Conversely, the Crags require more power projection, and behind them sit our vassals."

Heraclius sighed.

"I only hope they strike into the Crags directly. Our fortifications and arrays there are excellent, and our defense is so in depth if the Cannibals threw themselves into the Crags alone I could guarantee a victory in the war. I suspect they'll try and flow around them, however."

"Their third option is to head into the Xin Kingdom and Hua Empire, savaging our southern lands and killing as many mortals as possible to bloat their strength before turning north. If I were Old Cannibal I would unleash my hordes in the south, knowing that the two kingdoms there are the most vulnerable. Oh, they held off the Devil Bees, but the Bees are as good an enemy as we could hope to face - their weaknesses must face our strengths when they invade, and their consumption of Qi is vast. The Cannibals are native to the desert, and Xin Kingdom has lost the last few wars it fought with Hua Empire. The problem of course is that if we decide to meet him in force in the south, he can simply be strong elsewhere, and smash through the Crags or Molds, cutting off our lines of supply and ensuring our defeat."

Manuel frowned.

"I had not thought the situation so dire in the south. What would you suggest?"

"In all honesty, Grand Elder? I would consider leaning heavily on the Hong Xuan Clan, forcing them to deploy as many cultivators to the south as possible. Such strongarming would make our relations with them far worse - but we have few other sources of might. I would consider redeploying heavily from the Scorpion Road, even if it costs us wealth in the short-term. Let the unblooded face the Road, and move our veterans south. Lastly, strip the mountain fortresses to the bone against the Blacksmiths. They are unlikely to attack, and those Legions should be used on the Road. If the Righteous powers decide now is the time that we fall, those fortifications will not save us. Not with the situation as it is."

"Mmm. I will take your advice into consideration. How goes the ordered Legion?"

"The new mobile Legion notion is forming well. A mixture of Spirit Beasts and magical flying artifacts have allowed us strategic mobility in a single Legion, though it has come at quite a cost in Spirit Stones. I would wager the 716th is the equal of any other Legion, and with their manoeuvrability, we have a card to play that Old Cannibal cannot easily counter."

- - - -
(A note. There will be one to two player-led Legions formed this turn, so this is me writing up the template for such.)

Legion: The Windswept Ten Thousand
Number: 716th
Words: Storms above, bodies below.
Description: The Windswept Ten Thousand are a reformed Legion led by one of the new Early Core Formation cultivators. Primarily standard cultivators equipped with the largesse of the Clan - flying Spirit Beasts, artifacts, and endless funding of Spirit Stones, they are explicitly designed to be easily redeployed. They are not shock troops, but rather might be considered analogous to mortal mounted infantry. The Clan brings them to the battlefield with their superior strategic mobility and then deploys them into battle in the usual way.
Numbers: 10,000 Qi Condensation disciples, 100 Foundation Establishment experts, 1 Core Formation Legate.
Morale: Superb. Some of the best Legionnaires the Optimatoi have to offer unified with the best equipment, the 716th feel invincible at this point in time.
Legate: Yi Hoshuan. A dedicated logistics expert, Legate Yi spent most of his time as a scribe and administrator in the Contribution Board department of the Clan. However, it is his keen skill at moving troops and supplying them that led him to be the Legate of the Windswept Ten Thousand. Despite being only a mediocre battle commander, his excellence in ensuring that the 716th will be able to move wherever they are required meant he was the obvious choice for command.
Notable Members: None yet.

- - - -

Manuel rubbed his temple with a few fingers.

"So we deploy to the Burnished Crags, leaving sufficient forces to prevent us being cut off in the north, a minority of forces to the south, and we lean on our vassals to provide safety in the south?"

"I think it the most prudent plan. We win by thinning out their numbers and bringing a great counterblow at the appropriate time, but if they are able to consume kingdoms, it will be difficult to do the former."

Manuel hmmed.

"Well. Draw up new plans. I have some information gained from a few Cannibal spies that may come in handy, but give me a notion of what our options are so I might plan effectively."

The other man saluted.

"By your will, Archegetes."

True to his word, Heraclius brought back plans. Many were simple enough and relied on the same deployment strategy that had been put forward already. The main thing Heraclius mentioned was, in short, how much to lean on the Clan's allies and vassals. Manuel thought on this. It was better decided now - trying to do this when fighting a war risked vassals simply refusing or dragging their feet when the Clan didn't have the power to easily address it.


- - - - - -

So, this is another Plan Vote. What you're voting for here is mainly what the Clan is asking from its vassals and allies. Normally we don't get them to dig so deep, but right now is a pivotal moment in Manuel's mind. Bear in mind the more we ask, the unhappier they'll be... These aren't mandatory, however. You can simply pick none if you'd prefer.

- - - - - -

Firstly, how to deal with the Hong Xuan Clan? (Each Tribute not accompanied by a Boon will see a major loss of Ally Opinion. Having two more Tributes than Boons could be dangerous...)

Tributes:

[ ] Qi Condensation Deployment (+75,000 Qi Condensation disciples for the duration of the war)

Deploy thousands of disciples in the cities and towns, manning fortifications. The key is to prevent the enemy from growing overmuch, and that means hacking down their rank-and-file.

[ ] Foundation Establishment Deployment (+1,500 Foundation Establishment Experts for the duration of the war)

Deploy Foundation Establishment. Speed is the attribute of the Expert for a reason, and with more Foundation Establishment Experts more ground can be covered. After all, Core Formation Elders can't be everywhere.

[ ] Core Formation Deployment (+10 Core Formation Elders for the duration of the war)

Deploy Core Formation. Remedy your weaknesses with more Core Formation elders. Situated in key cities and forts, they will make it hard for the enemy to take the most crucial points.

[ ] Elite Deployment (+2 Late Core Formation Elders, +1 Great Circle Elder for the duration of the war)

The Hong Xuan Clan have a few elite Core Formation Elders who rarely leave the Clan. Their combat prowess outstrips the other Core Formation elders combined, and would be mighty forces in duels and the like.

[ ] Front Line Deployment

Without much prodding and poking, the Hong Xuan Clan will only deploy their people to cities back from the immediate front line to prevent deep raids and the like. This frees up Clan forces, but also forces the Clan to take the brunt of the fighting. With this Tribute, you can get them into the front line directly and have them take losses for you.

Boons:

[ ] Wealth.

Pay 10 Wealth when it next becomes available. This can be picked at most twice.

[ ] Land.

Offer land to the Hong Xuan Clan. They will want contiguous land, so this means giving up half of the Burnished Crags. This can be picked twice to give up ALL the Burnished Crags.

[ ] A Favour.

Manuel will lose an Action at random in the future to assist the Hong Xuan Clan.

[ ] Allow their conquest of Xin Kingdom.

This has been a thing Hong Xuan Clan have desired for many decades, and by giving it to them you will both strengthen your southern border and please the Hong Xuan Clan. Of course, all your other vassals will be unhappy with you for allowing this.

- - - - -

Secondly, how to deal with the Simmering Soup Sect? (Each Tribute not accompanied by a Boon will see a major loss of Ally Opinion. Having two more Tributes than Boons could be dangerous...)

Tributes:

[ ] Foundation Establishment Deployment (+1,500 Foundation Establishment Experts for the duration of the war)

Deploy Foundation Establishment. Speed is the attribute of the Expert for a reason, and with more Foundation Establishment Experts more ground can be covered. After all, Core Formation Elders can't be everywhere. The Soup Sect is too far to deploy masses of Qi Condensation Disciples, however.

[ ] Core Formation Deployment (+6 Core Formation Elders for the duration of the war)

Deploy Core Formation. Remedy your weaknesses with more Core Formation elders. Situated in key cities and forts, they will make it hard for the enemy to take the most crucial points.

[ ] Soups and Spices (Losses among Foundation and above cultivators mitigated during the war).

Ancient and powerful soups from the Simmering Soup Sect will help heal and invigorate your cultivators. Such powerful things will minimise your losses.

[ ] Front Line Deployment

Without much prodding and poking, the Simmering Soup Sect will only deploy their people to cities back from the immediate front line to prevent deep raids and the like. This frees up Clan forces, but also forces the Clan to take the brunt of the fighting. With this Tribute, you can get them into the front line directly and have them take losses for you.

Boons:

[ ] Wealth.

Pay 10 Wealth when it next becomes available. This can be picked at most twice.

[ ] A Favour.

Manuel will lose an Action at random in the future to assist the Hong Xuan Clan.

[ ] Unrestrict their trade to the north

Many of their most potent brews are forbidden to be traded outside the Clan, and the Sect has long resented this. By allowing them free trade you will be a little weaker in future.

- - - - -

So for a vote, have it look like

Hong Xuan Clan
[x] Tribute
[x] Tribute
[x] Boon

Simmering Soup Sect
[x] Tribute
[x] Boon