Dueling Fate

Vote Closed

When it's dawn, and those who have work for the day have yet to rise the town is quiet. You've always preferred the dawn as you wandered around the Bordertown, equipment slung over your shoulder making a heady beat for the sect.

It's not dawn this morning.

You wake up in the middle of the day. A body full of aches and pains. Your midsection screams in protest as you sit up. You gingerly touch your chest, lifting your hand to see crimson. You look down to see a faint trickle of blood running down your abdomen as one of your wounds has reopened from during the night. You stumble downstairs, the noise irritating Shao Suyin mid-scroll, irritated looks turn concerned as she takes in your wounds, watching as you dig through her cupboards for some bandages. Ones you find shortly and apply with gritted teeth before you march back upstairs and put on a shirt, doing your best to move your upper body as little as possible.

Linds Health 19/34 (Will re-heal by two per day) (Re-heal = half of Will).

"Congratulations are in order then?" She asks when you return this time, fully clothed, though still in pain.

At your blank gaze she lifts a necklace of her own and with a dawning realisation you lift your pendant to show her the white flower now embedded within.

"I might be in for a good crop this year." She says as she runs her finger over the wood before she hands it back to you and you tuck it into your robes. "We caretakers are rewarded for the amount in our care who move into the sect, proper guidance is a key to cultivation after all." She answers your questioning gaze, and you nod as you open the door, about to go outside.

You spot your belt and dagger on the wall.

You leave with your belt and dagger around your waist. You're off to meet a Ghost after all.

Can't hurt to be prepared.

Suyin waves you off as she returns to her reading at the table.

You've never hunted a Ghost. You've never had much to do with the Imperial men and women either, leaving your backwater village alone almost your entire life. You've seen The Ghost here and there, around the marketplace in the aftermath of the fire. Interviewing guards, members of the sect. Every so often he would tilt his head in your direction though you never stared long as you had yet to meet his demands. Now though, you have and yet you have no idea how to hunt him down.

Luckily, you do not have to do much hunting as you find him in the middle of the city, resting against a fountain which only sputters water every so often, yet to be fully repaired from the night the city had burned. There are no people conversing with him, no guards or sect members in the process of being interrogated. If you didn't know any better, you'd assume that he was enjoying a pleasant day in the middle of the town, taking in the nervous and agitated glances of those around him like the most relaxing of smelling salts.

But you do know better because the moment he senses you, his mask turns in your direction, and he uncrosses his arms before striding over.

"Lind Tallak. You are late."

You go to bow deeply, though you get a quarter of the way down before you realise your body will not bend the rest of the way. Instead, you end up in an awkward incline more likely to be seen on an old man than one your age.

"I apologise, honoured elder," You tell him between ragged breaths. "I wasn't aware that you knew of my progress."

"The Monkey saw fit to let me know of your progress last night over drinks." The Ghost tells you, disdain dripping from his words as he references the figure you encountered yesterday. "I believe he was happier for me to spend time on your training, rather than looking into the inner workings of his sect."

"His sect, elder?" You repeat, paling at the thought of your encounter yesterday.

"For now," The Ghost tells you. "Do you have the core?"

"The core, Tallak." He repeats after he looks over to see you still thinking about the Elder you met the other day.

Fumbling into the depths of your coat you reach out and hand it over to him.

The Ghost looks at the shard, holding it up to the light. "Is there a reason you didn't swallow it when you had the chance?"

"I believed the pills would be better for my cultivation."

The Ghost gives a non-committal hum at your answer. "I remember devouring my first the second it fell into my palm. Still, if cultivation is your primary concern, then you made the correct decision. If you know a pill maker that can work with demonic materials that is."

In the wake of your silence he asks another question.

"Do you know a pill maker, Lind?"

You do not know a pill maker.

."Luckily," He says, voice tinged with something you don't like. "There are a few in the sect that I can introduce you to. One of which I had the chance to meet yesterday. Would you like me to take you to that pill maker Lind Tallak?"

You try to swallow the irritation that simmers through his words.

It's just a material, how hard could making pills be?

And even if you couldn't, you're rooming with another hunter, you've met a merchant, you've met people all with their own specialties in your group of initiates. Surely there would be a pill maker among them?

"Working with demonic materials is a rare opportunity, and the materials themselves are a highly volatile substance." The Ghost continues as he palms the core, and it disappears into nothingness. "It's rarity, however, makes it a material a lot of experienced pill makers are happy to get their hands on, especially as it gives them the opportunity to work with the materials of the Empire and receive the riches, we offer should we seek their employ."

"Do you employ many artists, elder?" You ask, thinking about the way Qian Xia had regarded you just for taking a cycling technique from the man in front of you.

You feel a stab of pressure from the Ghost that bears down upon you like a mountain. Like the day in which you had first met him, something strikes to the heart of your soul and steals your secrets. The pressure abates as he finds what he wants, and he takes a second to regard you as you regain your composure. "There is little wrong with seeking the employ of the Emperor, Lind, despite what any here will tell you. Strength, power, order, the Empire is home to all of these and what more does a man need to further his cultivation than those three? To build strength, to gain power, to master his body and spirit? There is a reason the Emperor has stood for a thousand years, and there is a reason he will reign for thousands more."

"But yes, despite the shame others may try to cast on you, the Empire employs thousands, and we spurn thousands more each year." The Ghost tells you. "The strongest willed, the most committed, the most talented. Only the best enter the Emperor's ranks."

"Now," he says. "I will show you to the Sect proper, and I will acquire some pills to aid your progress. Come with me."

It has become apparent, over your time in the town, that it is not actually a part of the sect. The hunters such as Suyin and the barkeep are not members. They do not have the robes initiates such as yourselves are expected to wear, they do not have many of the duties that those in the sect are given. Instead, they are allowed to live near it in exchange for housing the recruits and providing them with some resources to aid their initial cultivation. In return, they get access to the sect's grounds to hunt game and manage their own cultivation, though many have yet to proceed further than Consecration.

No, the true sect is somewhere within the wilds you so often traverse. You have seen some of the members walking to the town, and you've noted what trails they've taken but you've never followed.

If you were meant to be at the sect, they would have led you there to begin with.

"Will they be willing to allow me access, Elder?" You ask him as you follow his march out of town.

One of the guards, the same one that you often find when you return at sunset fixes a confused look on you as he observes who you are following. Any words however do not fall from his tongue and the Ghost strides past him giving him without a word, giving him as much respect as a mountain does to a molehill. You nod politely in his direction, though the guard does not return the gesture as the Ghost tells you.

"Lind, you're with me." As if that answers everything.

And as you watch others quail before his mere presence, maybe it does.

The two of you move into the sect, though you struggle to keep pace with your senior in cultivation. Where you had left Bai Ping in your wake the other day, you in turn struggle to keep up with The Ghost's pace. Not once does his breath ever fall out of a smooth rhythm. He strides gracefully, with the flowing movement you've come to expect of the cultivators of the Golden Reeds and their affinity for water-based Qi. You don't understand how you are falling behind him, given not once does he move above a walking pace, you just know that every so often where you are at the base of a hill he is already at the top, stopping every few minutes and waiting for you to catch up as you run gingerly to avoid aggravating your wounds.

After almost an hour of this dance of frustration however, you finally lay your eyes upon the homes of those in the Golden Reed Sect.

A small compound sits upon a fast-flowing riverbank. A myriad of houses and huts sit within as cultivators stream in and out, wearing a variety of different garbs. The houses themselves do not look as different from the town you've made your home the last few weeks, however as you look down upon the river you can see that it is a home of cultivation. Members stand upon the river, some even swimming within. Orbs of water larger than you and The Ghost combined crash thunderously against each other as two members are locked in a game or contest of some sort.

Above the buildings an eagle the size of a house soars through the skies, its cries pierce your ears even as it flies higher than some of the mountains you've climbed.

"The Golden Reeds Sect, home to the greatest Water Cultivators the Empire has to offer." The Ghost says, "Filled with beasts and wonders you would struggle to find at any sect in the world."

He goes to say something else but catches himself at the last moment and instead he begins to move down silently.

You follow him, ignoring the curious and puzzled stares of your seniors as The Ghost leads you closer to the compound. One man, larger than the rest stops the pair of you before you can enter.

"It is rare for initiates to be allowed access to Sect grounds, honoured Ghost." The man says, bowing low before your senior. "I would humbly ask that you conduct your business and leave the boy outside lest he learn our secrets yet fail our trials."

The Ghost stares at the man impassively, noting his prostration before he utters one word.

"No."

The man sputters, looking up from his bow with shock as he stands back upright. "Honoured guest, there a rites and principles that must be-"

"Rites and principles hold no power over the Empire's will," The Ghost says, before he takes a slight step forward and his voice drops into a rasp which makes your skin crawl. "And I am the Empire's Will while I am in this sect."

The man steps back as The Ghost steps forward. "I did not mean any offence, I simply-"

"No offence is taken… Yet." The Ghost says, "Though if you continue to remain in my way, then offence will be taken at an ever increasing rate."

The man pales, before he does the last thing he has left to do.

He steps to the side and lets you and The Ghost pass, you look away uncomfortably as you do so.

"A braver man than most." The Ghost says after he is out of earshot. "So many willing to let your presence go unquestioned, and only one who stood for the Sect's traditions."

"Is my presence here that unusual?" You ask the man.

"The only time an initiate is likely to be in the sect proper should be if they were to sustain an injury that would require major support in recovery, or if they were given a task by an Elder. You have been given neither."

"Were there no other pillmakers we could contact then?" You ask, "I did not wish to cause offence to my seniors."

"There were some." The Ghost says, "However it is good to remind the initiates that the Empire holds the true power in this realm and your presence serves a delightful, and stinging reminder of that fact. Now come, the pillmaker should be in here."

He stops in front of a house and knocks three times.

A response is slow in coming, though when it does a half-clothed initiate with green hair tied in a braid that trails down his shoulder yawns as he opens the door. Seeing The Ghost in the doorway he promptly snaps to attention and drops into a deep bow. "Did you bring it?" He asks the man and the Ghost pulls your shard out of nowhere, placing it into the hands of the man who cradles it as if it is the most important thing in the world.

"Did you pay attention to the formula Seri?" The Ghost asks and the man nods, stepping away from the door and waving the pair of you inside.

You walk into a mess of vials and materials discarded upon dirt-ridden floors. You step ever so gently to avoid treading on glass. As you walk through a small hallway you peek into open rooms and see materials lit under flame, a cauldron bubbling in one and in another a core much like your own material hovering between two pieces of steel, pulsing with energy. The man turns to find you lagging behind and calls out to you.

"Take care not to touch the projects, the slightest disturbance could undo months of work, or cause an explosion that would leave this house a ruin, and one yet to Consecrate ashes on the floor."

You place yourself firmly in the middle of the hallway and decide to keep your eyes focused on the man in front of you.

"Is there a request for how you want the materials handled?" Seri asks the Ghost, as he walks into the biggest room yet.

A workbench littered with hammers, prongs and inventions of wood and steel you've never seen before in your life sit meticulously organised and easily accessible. Where the rest of his house is a mess, where Seri does his work is perfectly kept and maintained, unblemished stone underneath you and a high roof with open windows to allow the smoke to escape speak to a building perfectly designed for his work.

"Cultivation pills. Your potential junior intends to use them to continue his Consecration."

The man runs an eye over you for the first time as he places the core of the hand on the bench.

"Yes, these will help with his cultivation indeed." He says before he turns to his work. "I will need time."

And then he turns his back to both of you, and you watch as his legs begin to curl and his green hair releases from his braid, instead running down his back in a criss-crossing pattern as his chest takes on the form of scales the same shade of his hair and his legs form into a tail as he now slithers across the room. He takes a hammer into his hand and heft it before bringing it down upon the core of The Hand with a deafening crack.

You have heard of these creatures before. Nagas, considered almost divine in some of the southern parts of the Empire. People, snakes, sometimes something in between, able to shift between all forms as they please. You did not know there were any in sects, you did not know there were any who pursued cultivation, until today.

You stare at his tail transfixed, his forked tongue sticks out in concentration as he brings the hammer down again. The Naga does not care or even notice your intense scrutiny. Instead he is lost to his work, like you are often lost in your hunts. He brings a now shattered shard of the core to the flame, fire melting the shard into droplets which he then takes and places into a vial before he adds a powder, bringing the two together. The combination bubbles dangerously to the top, ready to spill down the sides before it subsides.

"This will take time," The Ghost says as he watches the Naga light more burners and ever so gently place the rest of the demon core between two prongs. "Time that could be better spent helping you advance Lind Tallak."

You look at the masked figure, goosebumps ripple up your flesh at his words.

Excitement? Caution?

"What do you mean, honored elder?" You ask them. "You have already provided me with a cycling technique and a pathway into the sect."

"That I did." The Ghost says. "And I recall saying that if you succeeded in my assignment then we would discuss your future. The Crucible is a strong cycling technique, but the Ghosts have not helped enforce the will of the Emperor for so long with the strength of cultivation alone."

In his hand he produces five shards, identical to the shard he had given you the day he bestowed the Devouring Crucible upon you. Crystal gleams in the firelight as Seri continues his work, either too absorbed in his creation or deciding to pay the both of you as little attention as possible.

"You have talent Lind, you have proven that should I give you a task then you are able to see it to completion. Competence is to be rewarded, and your continued competence is something I am happy to invest in, should you continue to fulfil my wishes."

The shards rise into the air, brimming with untapped potential. One arrives, and you hear your own heart, thudding, pounding. Further past yours you can hear Seri's, pulsing evenly as he stands over his workbench deep in thought. Your senses then turn to The Ghosts. Slow, too slow. Gentle thuds almost an eternity apart. The Ghosts voice rises above the crescendo, though the heartbeats surround his words.

"To the hunter I present the Silent Rhythm. Focus on those in front of you and not only can you track them by the sound of their heart, grow proficient and you can tell truth from lies. Animals may try to hide, people may try to deceive, but their own heart shall always give you the truth you seek."

The shard drops back into his hand, and with it the sound of hearts cease. Another rises and as it does you freeze in place. Terror creeps into your heart. Your nails dig into your palm, your legs shudder though you stand firm. Your mind flashes back to that night you found The Hand, its presence almost forcing you to flee. No, this terror is not The Hand's.

This terror is your own.

Power, strong enough to leave your enemies quivering without lifting a hand of your own.

"Pressure of the Unknown. Flood your aura with your Qi, may your presence unnerve and intimidate those who oppose you."

The next shard is even more terrifying than the one before, as it raises high you see two people locked in combat, but as the blow of one lands it does not strike flesh, their hand sinks into the victim. You do not have to hear the blow, or the victims screams as the shade collapses in on themselves from the strike. The hand of the attacker leaves with an inky wetness dripping from their hand.

"Strike the Heart," The Ghost says. "A personal favourite of the Emperor's Inquisitors, land blows upon your opponent that have the potential to cripple their cultivation. In turn, you could use it in your hunting to bring down your quarry with a single strike of your hands."

Violent, yet you cannot deny its effectiveness.

Another shard raises and takes its place, this one however, does not fill your vision. Instead you can feel the wounds on your body beginning to knot and heal at an accelerated rate. Your skin crawls but as the crawling fades the pain that had been present before ebbs away.

"A Body Reforged. Increase your body's ability to recover, and even grievous wounds can be overcome in days rather than weeks. Qi intensive, exhausting upon your reserves even, but if you do not have the luxury of rest, you will at least have the luxury of a fit and able body." The Ghost tells you.

You resist the urge to whine as the shard falls, and with it the knots unravel and the pain which had vanished roars back to life. The temporary reprieve makes the aches more noticeable. You grunt in discomfort, nails digging into your palm to focus your senses and you nod your head as the last shard is presented to you.

Smoke and fire obscure a figure in the flame.

As another draws closer, the flames grow in size, trying to intimidate their opponent. The figure retreats and the flames die down, only to roar back to life as the figure rushes forward. This time, a bolt of heat lashes out and strikes the arm of the figure, searing it with heat.

"Cloak yourself in smoke to disguise your full presence and punish your enemies for careless attacks. The Lancing Whisps are for your own protection, should you find yourself in unsavoury situations." The Ghost says, before the shard returns to his hand. "I am willing to provide you with one of these techniques, in exchange. If I set you a task, much like the Demon you just hunted, I expect you to see it to completion. Are these terms agreeable?"

Power, dancing on the tips of his fingers, ready to be given to you. It takes a lot to not just reach out for it immediately. Yet, people fear the Ghosts for good reason and some of the techniques he's offering are as frightening as they are powerful. You've seen the fear and disgust of those who see The Ghost around the sect, do you want that fear? Do you want to face more disgust and disapproval like Qian Xia's treatment of you?

But, if you deny The Ghost here, who will help you harness the power of the Crucible?

Which will you take?

[] Silent Rhythm (Sound/Blood Qi Technique)

[] Pressure of the Unknown (Mind Qi Technique)

[] Strike the Heart (Blood/Force Qi Technique)

[] A Body Reforged (Blood Qi Technique)

[] Lancing Whisps (Smoke/Fire Technique)

[] You won't take anymore of The Ghost's help, these favours he mentions leave you with an odd taste in your mouth.