Manuel looked down on his Council, and sighed.
They were unused to their new quarters near the warfront to be, but he could not realistically counter Old Cannibal from the Clan's inner sanctum. Likewise, having his Elders able to assist him would be crucial. Old Cannibal might take advantage to strike deeply into his territory, but the other man knew Manuel had slivers of Nascent Will, and was more than willing to use them to prevent it. No, this was the optimal choice. Perhaps not the best, but he could not see the future, merely plan for it.
The Council moved sluggishly, paperwork high on desks and eyes flickering back and forth. They were united in the pursuit of a goal, now. Elders were normally primed for this, slowly brought into the inner circles and brought up so they'd find it easier to perform their duties without his input, but the new Council had been brought in quickly. Even now, they struggled a little.
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There are basically four main 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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No Voting Moratorium this time. Seeing how it impacts things.
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Manuel sat in the tent. Surrounded by arrays, hidden by his own Dao, and stuffed full of tables and chairs, the forty-year old tables they'd brought from the main Council chambers still offering protection 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, and one had been caught already. An attempt to suborn Xinya from Old Cannibal, just a sliver of mental influence. Manuel had caught it, of course, but it was merely an opening gambit. Old Cannibal understood how important their organisation was. It was risky, moving the Council forward, but he needed to push his advantages hard.
Around sat his Councillors, some who were skilled and valuable pieces on the gameboard. Others were less unknowns. Twenty years ago, he merely hoped they'd be able to carry out their duties. Today, he was satisfied to call them useful. Not satisfactory - to say that they worked well together was an exaggeration, administration and disciples and intrigue all still finding the proper way to work with one another.
"Report."
Manuel's voice was clarion, ringing out not only through the Council chambers, but through the camp and the six Legions surrounding them. It inspired, stiffening spines and letting all who heard it know that there was power on their side, real and palpable. No matter how many screaming Cannibals surrounded them, they were the Clan, and no number of savages would tear them down.
He let a smile come to his lips. Mastering that little trick had taken four years of dedicated effort. Alexios had thought he wouldn't be able to do it, and it had been almost useless at a time. Now, though... well, he was glad he had it.
First was Casia Zimisce, a Late Core Formation cultivator. Rail-thin and severe-faced, she looked as though she had perpetually swallowed a lemon. Her intimidating posture and expression aside, once she spoke one wouldn't pay attention to them, as she set everyone around her at ease. Casia 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 staff, and simply trying to make the Contribution Board run. She had done an admirable job.
"Archegetes. Obviously in terms of wealth things have gone reasonably well. We have nine million Spirit stavraton saved, though we are poorer than I might like. Strength Purity has offered us a loan on fairly favorable terms, given our circumstances. Ten million stavraton, in return for a permanent reduction in their fees on the Scorpion Road. I estimate a loss of one million or so stavraton every two decades. Under ordinary terms this would be a foolish thing to accept, but we may need the wealth for the war."
[ ] Take the Loan. Permanent -1 Wealth per turn, +10 Wealth now.
[ ] Don't
Currently the Clan has 9 Wealth (+0 from last turn. +15 from income, -1 from inefficiency penalty, -5 from hired Core Formation mercenaries).
Second was Kleisthenes Sarantapechos, a Mid Core Formation Elder. Dead 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. This friendship had suffered with her sister's death, however. In recent years, Manuel and she have had dinner a few times, slowly trying to rebuild a badly damaged relationship.
"Archegetes. Our relations with Strength Purity Sect have strengthened again over the last few decades. It is difficult to get intelligence reports at the moment, but our erstwhile allies are willing to give us news of their battles. The Great Battlefield has been put in favor of the Righteous Path, as Strength Purity push into Demonic Altar territory. A massive column of Altar troops are marching west, to the Flower and Arrow Sect. The Strength Purity troops are unable to follow, and are hoping on their allies to be able to defend themselves. A risky maneuver, and if it pays off the Demonic Altar will seize the intiative once more. The Siege remains broken, and the Noble Knowledge Sect are spreading some manner of poison clouds that transform mortals into murderous zombies in the surrounding lands. An early estimate is that they have killed between ten and fifteen million mortals in the last decade."
Third was Xie Xinya, a Mid Core Formation Elder. She is beautiful, long black hair framing an oval face. Her lips glossy and eyes rouged, she was certainly the cultivator on the Council who cared most about her appearance. Manuel missed Euphrosyne - that old woman had never hesitated to argue with him or call him a fool, and there were precious few who would. But dwelling on his failures won no battles. She is the Parakoimomenos, or in common terms, the Elder of Intrigue. Previously you held her position. Hopefully, Xinya can achieve some fraction of what Nikephoros did. To her falls the duties of espionage, sabotage, and assassination.
"Archegetes. Things are.. indecisive. I don't think we're going to see much of an information war now. Too many troops. I've pulled a lot of my informants back, and I'm building my forces in the places I can hold them. I'm aiming to push two cities into open revolt, but whether I succeed will remain to be seen. Most of my other spies in Cannibal territory are dead. I spent a lot of lives to build a sort of map. One of the northern cities, Fu Tong... it's impenetrable. I don't know what's happening there, but anyone I send there dies."
Fourth came Destasia Duca, an Early Core Formation Elder. She is Chartoularios Tou Kanikleiou, or in simpler terms, the Master of Disciples. She 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. She is flighty, friendly, and happy, and is well-known for her eyes she can use to befuddle or poison her enemies with, as well as her... unique approach to both life and cultivation.
"Archegetes. I am excited, happy, and having a good time! My disciples are not! Plenty of training for them, hah!"
Manuel frowned.
"And your results, Destasia?"
"Hmm... I'd say we're training at eighty percent efficiency? No, eighty-five. Eighty-three, maybe. Lots of new Qi Disciples, and people ascending all over the place! Did you hear about the Callista girl? What an amazing 13th Heavenstage breakthrough! I know you denied my application to dissect her and see what makes her tick, but-"
"No."
"Well, not to worry then. Plenty of new Elders from last time, and I think we're doing well. Maybe. Well, it depends on your definition of well. Less disciples are dying than when I started, though. Hardly any of them crippled in training!"
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 960, he will only be capable of command for another 40 years or so - and this due to a Lifespan Treasure. Unless some miracle happens, however, 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. You may need to use a second Treasure if the war continues, and you have few enough of those stored up.
Heraclius speaks, a gravelled voice coming from a throat that had been cut more than once.
"Archegetes. You are aware of our warplans. A primary defense in the Burnished Crags, with wings spreading out to the Xin Kingdom and north to our core territories to protect our supply lines. A rock that our enemies will crash upon and break. There is little more to discuss strategically. Tactically, I believe we have an excellent disposition and some powerful and flexible options to defeat our enemies. I hope to provide a favorable battle with Old Cannibal if it is possible."
You clench your jaw, and think.
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Currently the Clan has 9 Wealth.
The Clan will gain 15 Income, and lose 1 to Inefficiency for a total Income of 14 next turn.
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What should the Clan focus on? (Outside of the war, which is of course your primary focus)
[ ] 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? (Note. If Old Cannibal surfaces you will need to abandon your personal Action to go deal with him.)
[ ] 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 9 Wealth saved. The Clan cannot go into debt (normally, though you do have an option to borrow here!) - you can only spend what you have!
Casia Zimisce wants to...
[ ] Hire Strength Purity Foundation Mercenaries (5 Wealth)
"Archegetes, the Scorpion Road is only so defensible. As we pull troops south, the Strength Purity Sect is willing to assist us further. I am not sure what their overall aim is, and no doubt it involves making us reliant on them diplomatically, but for a reasonable sum we can protect our trade from any deep strikes the Cannibals may perform."'
Kleisthenes Sarantapechos wants to...
[ ] Offer Jingshen Scorpion Road Tribute Reductions (5 Wealth)
"Archegetes, Old Jingshen has been rumbling. If he sees a weakness... well, I'm not sure he'll strike, but I'd sure as the Hells like to have something to dangle in front of him and take away if he did. I know it's a waste of wealth, but they can likely be bought off for a decade or two with some tariff reductions, and those are likely to be the pivotal ones."
Xie Xinya wants to...
[ ] Empower the Golden Eye Array to See Inside Fu Tong (11 Wealth)
"I know, we'd need to borrow money. But I can't get any spies in there, and the levels of protection mean the Array can't power through. I estimate we'd need eleven million stavraton worth of spiritual energy to break through, but if we can see what Old Cannibal has there... it might just be a honeypot designed to steal our wealth, but it might be crucial."
Destasia Duca wants to...
[ ] Attempt to improve the Technique Palace (14 Wealth)
"Archegetes, I'm pretty sure... ninety percent sure I can fuse the Technique Palace with a piece of hateful Nascent Will I carved off from a dead Nascent Owl. Only a tiny piece, and I've got it contained! Using the wisdom of the owl with the- well, to get to the point I think I could let our cultivators in Foundation Establishment use the Palace. Big longterm improvement, yeah? The Will isn't stable, though, so it'll disintegrate soon enough. Sorry, I know it's not a great time, but... ninety percent! That's a huge chance!"
Heraclius Staurakius wants to...
[ ] Build the Ten Thousand Forts (5 Wealth)
"Archegetes, I have been reading several reports of Strength Purity doctrine. One of their doctrines is to establish many small forts - we do something similar, but these are specifically designed to allow weaker cultivators to fight off Blood Path attackers, hiding before coming out to savage the enemy from the rear. Each can only sustain a single cultivator, but if they are not broken open by a Foundation cultivator over a few weeks, or a Core Elder over an hour or two, they will remain a thorn in the enemy's side. I am hoping to litter our northern supply lines with such forts in order to properly secure them, and ensure any deep strikes are punished."
