The Way Forward: Helping a mortal navigate the Celestial Bureaucracy (Transmigration Quest)

Enemy Actions

The Enemy Agent is ??? (???)
Action 1: Block one action of yours (Look into what could be causing magical interference with the arrays surrounding you and leaking information [10 RP 1 AP 1 FP])
Roll: 1d100+10(Agent Bonus)+35(Enemy Bonus)-4 (Labyrinth of Regret Repair Progress) (total:+41) vs 1d100+62 (Your Bonus) => [101 vs 147]; Major Failure
Enemy loses 1 action next turn.

Action 2: Weaken your ability to block.
Roll: 1d100+10+35-4 -> 1d100+41 vs 1d100+62-15(Enemy Extra Effort)=>1d100+47 => 81 vs 114; Major Failure
Enemy loses.. another action per turn. You gain a +10 bonus to all actions for 2 turns.

Action 3: Target Xiaomei with a powerful Divine Curse.
Roll: 1d100+45-4(Labryinth)+5(Direct Target Xiaomei Bonus) vs 1d100+5(Sight)+10 (Senian Bonus)+15(Positive Relations with Kerian Pantheon) =>1d100+46 vs 1d100+30 => 48 vs 128; Critical Failure
Xiaomei unlocks the event "A Past Memory"
Xiaomei gains a +10 defense against this agent, and gains an Insight into a new Technique.

Your Actions

- Burn AP to reveal a hint about an ongoing quest: Jungle Chain
Xiaomei will likely be facing a lot of cultists, and will be relying on Knowledge(Kerian Mysteries) a lot. Also contains moderate risk. Strangely, you'd think the Kerian Pantheon could more directly do things, and you have to wonder why they can't.. The reward is actually something you're not sure on. The Pantheons have been slowly losing their abiity to directly interfere due to successive actions by the Celestial Bureaucracy, and this would give the Kerian Pantheon a lot more power. But maybe that's what their world needs?

- Burn AP to reveal a hint about an ongoing quest: Pheonix City Nights
The city was just built, but already has agents attempting to interfere with it. This is a detective style quest. Xiaomei will be relying on diplomatic skills for this, which is difficult when you remember Persuaion auto-fails. The reward will be a major change in area politics, but also Xiaomei gaining an Ability.

- Covertly Repair the Tree of the Heavens: This action is repeatable up to Xiaomei's level and can be repaired by approximately 3.2%.
[1d100+15=>99+15=>114; Critical Success, Repair Multiplied by *1.5 => 4.8

You direct your energies, with a minion, but you can't. But, strangely, Xiaomei responds instictively, and some of the worst damage is repaired. The energy seems odd..

- Look into what could be causing magical interference with the arrays surrounding you and leaking information
[1d100+15 => 50+15=> 65; Success]
There's an odd pattern overlaid. It looks ancient, and you get the feeling all the spaces were "bugged"

[Bonus increases by +10 to vs Enemy; and in Celestial Intrique Actions]
[Unlock "Clean up the Meeting Spaces"]


- Incarnation seems risky, but yet the enemy persisted? (some risk.) [Taken 1 Time]
Attempt 2: 49+25=>74; One Success
Xiaomei Defiance now +10

The Great Library actually used to be greater. You know this, but many books have been taken out and hidden. Especially ones dealing with the Infernal Department. Still, it's clear that the Incarnation method they used must be Infernal, or maybe of the Void? More research is needed. It'd be helpful if the books were returned, too. The Librarian seems weary of people just taking things.

??? Action 2: 5=10=>-5; -Xiaomei Defiance (Crtiical Failure)
Xiaomei Defiance now +5

You get the feeling the hostile eyes are still on you, but why is Xiaomei responding so strongly to you doing this?
(Risk Increased for subsuquent actions)
(Enemy Bonus Increased)

- Gain some insight into how warping the fate of things works. Event: ????
It's been made clear to you that warping things causes ripples, but how? It takes some time, but one of your number hits upon the solution. You're causing ripples on the Way of the Heavens, rather than directly manipulating it. That seems odd, by itself, and ..

[Event: The Weavers of the Stars]

... the Weavers themselves appear and stare at you. "Why did you summon us?" They speak up before you can.

"Ah, you seek to guide the Star of the Void back to her place. Know then, that you will need to bring the Heavens back to their rightful role: to guide, to build, and to fall, to fulfill the cycle in the moral realms as the forces of Creation and Death dictate. You must weed out those would use their power in ways like the mortals would. To aid you in this quest, we give you this tool." A pair of starlight needles appear.

"Wield them well."

(FP events more likely to have beneficial effects; decreased chance of Defiance from Xiaomei. This *does not* apply to actions marked Risky.)

"Bring the Star of the Void back, and remind the mortals and Heavens that Righteous Justice shall always prevail even if the plan is beyond their understanding."

- Urgent Times often carry a lot of risk. Gain insight into enemy actions during FP. (4 turns)

Basically, you need more sight to see god incarnates. This is a tough sell, because such focused sight is what the gods themselves should be doing. At least with some gods, they'd be willing to aid for ideological or pragamtic options.

[1d100+25 => 74 + 25 => 99 vs 50; Major Success]
(Progress 2/4)

Thankfully, though, you could work out a trade. Probably not with Xiaomei doing something every time, that seems to you to be a route fraught with risk. But also: you can tell that gods are probably going to be upset over this situation. They barely have a vote in the Celestial Bureaucracy and their departments are sidelined.

Maybe that's a route, too?

- [Keria] Khalia has asked for some assistance in persuading the Adventurers Guild to set up in the new city. [+Relations with Kerian Pantheon][??? Event]

[Event: ???]

The head of the Adventurers Guild in the western regions was going home with a weary step. This.. Pheonix City.. was causing him all sort of headaches. On one hand, if they were willing to work and help cull the very hostile Monster population, he saw no problems with setting up a branch. On the other, he didn't want the intelligent monster tribes getting any power either. Half out of sheer dislike, half out of a clear view of the problems he'd incur with some of the adventurers and the Moncolisan Empire. Even if some of his subordinates had setup an outpost, he'd see it shut down.

It wasn't worth it, not for some -

"Monster Tribes?" A irritated voice interupts him. He then felt the prescense of several gods, all looking at him disapprovingly. "Is not your credo that all adventurers are welcome? When did you start to bow to tyrannical power?" One, Tdzai, in his full armor. "That is not protecting the weak." Senian strode forward. "That is being unjust."

"Your soul hangs in the balance, Dazik. Remember who you were when you started. What you fought for. Is it worth throwing away?"

The old man gently held his holy symbol, ashamed in the disapproval of the goddess he worshipped. She smiled softly.

"It is never too late for rebirth. For redemption. Prove it with actions. We do not think you so far gone that you cannot yet be saved."

The gods disappeared, and he stared in awe. They weren't known for directly appearing, but to have them trust that he could be who he had once sworn..

The next day, he ordered a full guild to be built in Pheonix City, and began a long cleaning house. He also moved their primary resources and headquarters to the Grand Duchy of Molia. He would make the adventurer's guild a place of freedom, and of equality to all those who would stride to improve the lot of their fellows, for whatever reason.

At that moment, the Guild began to administer it's own justice again, and many joyful functionaries took pleasure in refusing requests that went against it's charter.. and many corrupt functionaries found themselves investigated.

[Adv Guild upgraded to a full Guild in Pheonix City; less likely to act as hostile special forces]

- Spend resources to make your interference less obvious to potential watchers in the Bureaucracy. (Enemy difficulty to directly affect your DCs increases, your bonus on opposing them increases.

You find it a lot eaiser to set up the protections this time, and you think they might not even be able to detect you doing things now! That said, you have definitely reached the point of diminshing returns for now.



- Bank RP for later-use. (Banked RP caps at the same cap as unspent.) [+60]

Xiaomei Training

• Melee Weaponry: 1d100+10(STR Bonus)+5(School) => 1d100+15 => 100; Tier 3 Success (+2 points, +4 Prof Progress with weapons)
• Ranged Weaponry: 1d100+14(DEX Bonus)+5(School) => 1d100+19 => 112; Tier 3 Success (+2 points, +4 Prof Progress with weapons)
• (School Bonus) Spellcasting (Selected Skill: Kerian Spellcraft): 1d100+12(INT)+5(School)=> 1d100+17 => 68; Tier 2 Success (+2 points)
• (School Bonus) Practice Casting: Read Magic, Flare, Cure: 1d100+21(Spellcasting Stat)+5(School)=> 1d100 + 26 => 120; Tier 3 Success (4 casts each)
• Dodge: 1d100+14(DEX Bonus)+5=>1d100+17 => 68; Tier 2 Success +2 points
• (School Bonus) Parry: 1d100+12(STR)+5=>1d100+19=> 81; Tier 2 Success +4 points
• (School Bonus) Knowledge(Botany): 1d100+17+5=>1d100+22=> 43; Tier 1 Success +1 point

Xiaomei rolls 1d100+(47 P(Maid)+17 INT)=>1d100+64 for maid wages; her patrol wages go into the school and guards fund by preference. => [34 93] => 157 vs 60; Sublime Success (gain +1 pc +2 tc, +1 sc); 1 pc donated to school. (+3 progress to next rank; Profession(Maid) now 48 with 1 progress to next rank.
[School Upgrade: 4/? turns]

Xiaomei Actions

Xiaomei spends the first five days doing her regular patrols, with some emphasis to account for the unsettled populace.

[Morale returns to normal, City refugees (and ability to settle surrounding villages) returns to normal.]

On the sixth day, she reports to the Magi Tower. The device was a bomb that used fire and astral aspected mana, in what the Magi judged was a probably likely attempt to create a chain reaction.

Xiaomei nodded soberly, and began to investigate wearing her kimono, rather than her armor. The guards had been at work narrowing down who had access to it, and she was left with three people.

She looked over the interview notes, and.
[1d100+15 Investigation vs DC 40 => [65 15] => 80; Major Success]

.. one of the interviews leaps out at her. They had clearly lied, more so when she cross-references a few other witness statements. Grabbing one of the other guards, she brought them up to speed while they headed to the inn the person was staying in.

The other guard nods, as he thinks it through. "But why? That tribe suffered the most from repeated attacks."

"That's why we're going to investigate." Xiaomei responds, thinking. "I don't want to speculate until I know more."

They arrived at the inn the person, Alki Tairgi, was staying. They knocked on the door, but no response. Worried, they went to open it, and they found him dead.

[1d100+26 Perception vs DC 80, 1d100+15 Investigation vs DC 50; 107 vs 80, 108 vs 50; [Success, Major Success]]

Xiaomei spotted the tiny wound hidden in the neck, and pointed it out. She also spotted some half burnt papers and what looked like a hidden container. Opening it, she saw books, and components that looked to match the bomb.

What made her a bit uneasy was the expression of shock on the man's face, and the fact he looked more like a laborer based on the calluses on his hands. Using magic, she tried to reconstitute the note and see what it said.

[1d100+15 Investigation vs DC 70 (Reconstitute the Note) => 91]

With magic, it reconstituted, to state

"The magi have investigated the bomb. We'll visit tonight and get you out of town. - K." Xiaomei frowned, and she knew she'd have to ask the innkeeper about it, and wasn't relishing that. The innkeeper looked to be one of those types that didn't like the guards poking their noses into her business.

And she wasn't. Xiaomei could tell the other guard was about to start playing bad cop, and while Xiaomei apprecitaed it here, they were under a time constraint.

[1d100+8 Diplomacy vs DC 60 => 75+29 => 104*1.15=>120 vs 60; Major Success]

"Look. One of your patrons was killed last night, and we're almost certain he set the bomb on the house." Xiaomei says. "We're not interested in whatever else you may have going on, we just want to know if anyone came to his room in the last day or so."

The innkeeper seems visibly shocked. "Yes, there was a party of people from the Order of the White Hawk. They were talking about going on a mission to Davei."

Davei was a large city to the North, and part of the Moncolisan Empire. Xiaomei didn't think this was a coincidence. "Thank you. When did they leave?"

"Last night, about four bells into the morning." Xiaomei did a mental calculation of how far they could have gotten and visibly drained of color. "Thank you for your help. We've sent for a corernor and they'll clean the room up for you." Partially because they had to tear it apart for evidence checking, but she forbade from mentoning that.

Xiaomei turned to her partner. "Report this back to the Captain. I'll go see if I can find this party."

She had to stop and check on the guards on the northern gate, to see if anything met that description, and found one did.

[3 1d100+155 vs ??? => [82 69 61] 212 + 465 => 677]

Even with her flash step and moving at all out speeds, Xiaomei couldn't get a glimpse of them at first, but she pushed forward. She felt she could go faster. Further. And she wanted to catch this party.

[1d100+21 vs DC 75 (Insight: Flash Step) => 118; Major Success]
[Flash Step rises to [Approaching Understanding][Adept] L3]
[Flash Step is now 9 Qi/AGI*7]

[Moving air flowing over water; Inernal Energy now Near Understanding, Adept, L3. 0 Qi Activation, gain 1 Qi minute up to cap.]

Xiaomei felt something inside her release, as the world seemed sharper, clearer, and her energy flowing through her like never before.

She pushed forward, feeling her quarry had to be to the north. She trusted this feeling, as she maintained her Perfect Vision while moving.

[4 1d100+217 vs 1023 => 243 + 878 => 1121]

[1d100+15 VIT vs DC 60; Failure]
[Meditant: To be a Warrior is to push yourself beyond your limits, and fail and grow. +4 Progress]
[Xiaomei now at 144/279 HP]

Xiaomei skidded to a stop, feeling winded as she was suddendly drained in front of them. But she had intercepted the three person party. One elf, two humans, and all of them looked at her in shock, anger, and disdain.

Xiaomei smiled, pretending to be back to normal and ignoring the sudden weakness.

"Hello. I am here to ask some questions in the suspicious death of Alki Tairgi. The innkeeper has identifed you as a party who visited it about the time he was murdered, and the gate has identified you as the sole party who fits the description and left within the time-"

[1d100+56 Situational Awarness+Perfect Vision vs 1d100+30 Stealth Attack => 120 vs 4; [Sublime Failure]
[1d100+56 (+40 Crit Failure) Parry Attempt to reflect back vs DC 70; 106 vs 70; Major Success
[The Fire that Summons the Night Winds, -160 Qi]
[1d100+27 Chakram Attack at All Three vs DC 80; 117 vs 80; Major Success

Xiaomei spotted the needle almost immediately, albeit because of her Perfect Version being up. She had enough time to even redirect the needle back to the thrower as she spun, activating her Chakram and sending it at the three as a follow up attack.

It flashed as it hit all three, and..

[Target 1 Damage: (6d12 normal + 6d12 fire + 8d12 posion + 15) => 161 * 1.15 => 133
[Target 2 Damage: (6d12 normal + 6d12 fire + 15) => 99 * 1.15 => 114
[Target 3 Damage: (6d12 normal + 6d12 fire + 15) => 106 * 1.15 => 122]

.. two died instantly. The third screamed and ran away, presumbly towards .. well, something.

Xiaomei went to chase, but was struck by a memory of a girl running from her in a crowded street. Instinctively, she recognized it as a paved street by a convinence store, and her brain supplied 'Tokyo'.

Her brain overlaid it with the girl getting older and older, laughing at her, before she caught the now much older girl, who blushed and kissed her.

Xiaomei shook her head, remembering now, her wife. Her eyes turned in anger as she saw her target was far away, and the knowledge of what happened to her..

The fury swelled in her, and..

[Insight into a new Technique. With knowledge of similar techniques from other Arts, you understand this one intutitive.]

.. with a flash step, she channeled her Qi into her fist, beginning to spin it rapidly. The hand began to glow a bright violet as she screamed with the punch "[Spinning Wind Punch]" The person stares at her with the low damage with a taunt before a bright violet light blasts through her, with the ray of violet striking the hill behind her and cutting through.

[Gain Technique "Ryusei Rasen-ken" [Understanding][Adept] L3] [40 Qi][9d10 stellar damage in a 200' line]]

Xiaomei panted with exhaustion, then investigated the corpses, and.

[1d100+49 Perception vs DC 80 => 99;]
.. found a hidden sigil of a skull in red. Odd.

She buried the corpses, then recited a prayer of peace over them, leaving before the reinforcements she had no doubt would come by .. would come by.

She took it *slightly* more leasiurely on the way back, arriving back at nightfall.

She was unsurprised to see the local leader oF the Order of the White Hawk there also, and he looked angry at the accusations, turning on her. Xiaomei stared at him blankly.

"So you failed." He smirked. Xiaomei held up the sigil, and his face drained. "T.. where did you find that!?"

"One of the party had it on them when I caught up with them about halfway to Davei." The leader eyed her.

"You have the control of a Meditant, so it might be possible. But.. I thought we had eliminated the Circle of Silence.." He fell quiet.

"I'll have to investigate. Thank you for revealing this viper in our ranks.. and my apologies for my attitude."

He takes his leave. The guard captain and her eye each other, both aware this wasn't over. He silently handed her a ring.

"It's not much, but I think you'll have more use of it than you should."

[Complete Quest Find the Bomb Maker, gain +400 XP, +10 Rep with Order of the White Hawk, +6 Rep with Pheonix City Guards.]
[Complete The Game's Afoot. Gain +400 XP, 10 pc, +10 Rep with Pheonix City Guards, Ring of the Stars. Gain Access to The Dark Chapel of Kalria."]

[Gain Quest: "The Dark Chapel of Kalria": ??????, Objectives: Reach Level 6, [locked]x6, Results: ????]

The rest of the two weeks passes uneasily..

Random Encounters

18 - 9 (Xiaomei Actions) = 9 possible; 7 encounters
Encounters: [67 117->17 (*1.17 rewards) 39 44 76 120->20(*1.20 rewards) 64]

Encounter 1: The dried river.

Xiaomei noted one of the flowing streams had stopped, and knowing farms downstream needed it to keep watering the soil, she followed it upstream. She was.. actually surprised to see a sulking Water Elemental. She didn't even know they could sulk.

The Elemental seemed to be upset most at some crystals, and Xiaomei frowned. They had been corrupted, and she started to dispel all five of them.

[5x1d100+24(Dispel L3)+21(CHA) vs DC 75 => 135 117 95 131 114; 5 successes, Two Major]
[5 Dispel casts; -10 MP]

The crystals glowed as they absorbed the water mana again, and the Water Elemental seemed to be dancing in joy, a bit of the mana crystallizing in front of it, and giving it to Xiaomei as it sunk into her amulet, forming a rain drop over a lake.

Xiaomei bowed to it, and the Elemental .. nearly giggled, before returning to play with the crystals.

The water began to flow again.

[Amulet of Seven Moons gains "Blessing of Water": +1 to all rolls near water, +5% chance to resist disease and poisons]
Gain: +26 XP

Encounter 2: The Shadow Has Eyes..
(Rewards *1.17)

Xiaomei was patrolling near the market, contemplating if she should buy supplies, or donate her money. Out of the corner of her eyes..
[1d20+46 (Perception+Perfect Vision) vs DC 60 => 133 vs 60; Major Success]

... that looked to be a nyaakit. And she didn't recognize them. The nyaakit was seemingly shadowing her movements.. and looking around, but she had already moved to intercept ..

[1d100+32 vs DC 50 Combat => 119] ... and before the nyaakit could properly react, Xiaomei already had her blade lit up and pointed at the nyaakit's throat. "Mind explaining why you were following us?"

The nyaakit went defiantly silent, and Xiaomei sighs, escorting the nyaakit to the barracks and turning them over.

It turns out it was a spy for the Moncolisan Knights, and the next day, the Guards were sending crews in to close up some of the access routes in they took in to bypass the guardposts.

(Gain: 42*1.17=>49 XP)

Encounter 3: The Wandering Professor

Xiaomei was beginning to think this guy wasn't a professor, but just a really absent minded mage. Still, he taught at the local ampitheatre.... and he seemed determined to teach Xiaomei things. Still, she didn't mind knowing more about local customs... and of course, he had a "Trival task" that was.. fighting an entire band of orcs that were moving in on some of the fields used to grow medicinal herbs.

After a very long afternoon of fighting a band of orcs, she .. got .. a gun? she was pretty sure this was a gun. It was old, beaten up, broken, but still interesting to study. She also got a scroll of "Faerie Fire", as well.

Gain Faerie Fire/L1, Broken Caliver, 38 XP

Encounter 4: Xiaomei and the Sign from .. Somewhere.

Xiaomei was patrolling, when for a moment, the bubbles in the fountain formed a heart, then flowed away.

(gain +3 morale to rolls for 2 turns)

Encounter 5: This Really Needs To Stop Happening

Xiaomei was making a patrol when she heard a scream and headed in the direction to see.. a village *swarming with shadows and zombies*

... Again? Xiaomei was beginning to wonder if they needed to put quests up to check everywhere. The scream was a mother and daughter fleeing a few, and Xiaomei reacted by firing a set of spells in the pursurs, then acting as a rearguard. She couldn't fight them by herself, but on returning back and reporting to the Guild as well, a nearby party of B-rank adventurers immediately volunteered to go out before it spread.

The party took a lot of time slogging through it, but together avoided any damage and between Xiaomei and the Celebrant, cleansed the village.

This time Xiaomei grimly made sure to look for a diary or something.

[roll 1d100+39 vs DC 95 => 82; Failure]

She found nothing.. but the party agreed to discuss with the guild of setting up quests to start checking all known villages. Once was a surprise, twice was a coincidence, but a third .. well, that'd be enemy action.

Gain: Adventurer Contacts, 41 XP, 9 tc

Encounter 6: The Oddly Simple Mission

Xiaomei was asked to join a party that was out to get some rare herbs, but needed a fifth to help watch over the party. She did so, and what was odd is that.. she and the herbalist were sure this was planted. Recently.

[roll 1d100+36 vs 60 => 101; Major Success]

Suspiciously, Xiaomei began to look for anything amiss and found ... they were being watched. The party, via subtle hand gestures, decided to not interfere, but investigate on return.

While returning ...
[1d100+36 Resist (Xiaomei) vs DC 70 Poison => 52; Failure
[1d100+25 Party Leader vs DC 70 Poison => 53; Failure
[1d100+20 Magi vs DC 70 Poison => 94; Success
[1d100+30 Rogue vs DC 70 Poison => 95; Success
[1d100+25 Celebrant vs DC 70 Poison => 90; Success

Xiaomei and the Leader began to feel ill. The Magi and Celebrant examined the case carefully.. and were dismayed to recognize the poison. They began preparing the poltice and adminstered it to them, which was less to cure it, and more to shock their systems and give them a second chance to expel it before it settled into their Qi.

1d100+46 vs DC 70 (Xiaomei) => 145; Cured
1d100+35 vs DC 70 (Party Leader) => 72; Cured

... and barely expelled it before it became a real problem. They returned back to the field, and promptly set it on fire, then returned back and explained to the Guild what happened.

The poison was one considered banned in all countries, so they promised to keep an eye out for any requests.. while Xiaomei and the Rogue went to investigate.

[Unlock Quest: "Investigate the Mission", Who posted this mission to watch a party? Did they have something to do with the poison?"] [-1 encounter, quest instead]

Inquiry at the guild had started with the fact that it was an older man with red hair, and she seemed to think he was a member of the local school. Xiaomei knew that to be false, and

[roll 1d100+15 vs DC 50 => 102;] asked more closely. She did hear an interesting tidbit, one that had her and the Rogue eying each other.

They set out for the Magi Tower after a stop to a guard post. There, they found the quest issuer, who was discussing things with two other people. All three were the watchers, and Xiaomei quietly listened in.

"Do you think they suspect?" One asked the other.

"No, the poison has likely entered their systems by now. We can go run some test on their bodies and repeat." The oldest said. "They're just b-"He groaned as the Rogue appeared out of nowhere and flipped him, with the two magi about to react until Xiaomei appeared, lighting her blade.

"I think you should stop these experiments." She said, a bit of anger. The guards stepped out from behind a corner and took all threeinto custedy, slapping magical dampening cuffs.

The three apparently were members of some criminal gang, she heard later, and the guards were taking the rest who were here into custody.

Gain: 100 XP from Quest, 43 XP, 14sc


Total: +297 XP, Faerie Fire L1, Broken Caliver, 9 tc, 14sc, Adventurer Contacts

[Xiaomei donates 7 pc to the School, unlocking additional facilities for crafting and maintenance] (-7 pc)


You have 180 RP, 10 AP, 8 FP to spend on actions.



Relations with Kerian Pantheon: Very Good
AP: 10 (3 Bonus AP persists until end of this world.)
RP: 180 (30 Bonus RP persists until end of this world)
RP Storage (Urgent): 70 RP
RP Storage (non-Urgent): 0 RP (1080 RP cap)
Enemy Rolls vs You: +41 (+10 Enemy Bonus +35 Enemy Bonus -4 Labryinth Progress
Enemy Chance to Detect Your Action: 80% (1d100 on rolls >20)
Enemy Rolls vs Xiaomei: ????
Labryinth of Regret Repair Progress: 2/10 [Enemy takes -4 to all rolls]
Tree of the Heavens Health: 32.95% [Penalties: ????; Celestial Bureacracy Internal Affairs Bureau: Extremely Inefficient] (1/5 Times)
Incarnation Investigation: 1 Success; 1 Heat Meter
FP: 8 (10 completed quests.) (1 FP spent per turn)


Enemy: Hong Meiling; Rep: Takeda Daichi (Minor Goddess of ???)
[Stats on Enemy Blocked]
+82 to resist enemy action or overcome enemy block attempt. (+45 this world only.)(+10 for 2 turns)
Sight: +1 (Enhanced) (Gain more information and a +5 to resist enemy.)
[6 turns to attempt to decrease your bonus by (35/2???)]

Ci Xiaomei (Cilia) Awareness: 12/300
Ci Xiaomei Defiance: 5 (Very Low)
Ci Xiaomei Level: 5 XP: 1550/2000
Ci Xiaomei Defense against ????: +10
Event Notes: Certain Events in the Next World Locked; Dao of Luck ??? Event Unlocked

Effects:

• (gain +3 morale to rolls for 2 turns)

-[] AP Pool
--[] Get Xiaomei a fortunate encounter (2 AP. Spend +2 AP to make it more fortunate.)
--[] Burn AP to reveal a hint about an ongoing quest. (1 AP for subquests, 2 AP for Main quests.)
--[] Improve RP Pool (3 AP for +10 RP. Cost triples every 3 AP spent. RP cost increase is for this world, see transmigration mechanics.) (Taken three times)
--[] Gain an ally in the Pantheon, on the sly. (1 AP, ??? Results. Better Results: 3 AP.) (Unavialable in this World.)
--[] Arrange for an Inciting Incident (2 AP) (Xiaomei took this action first.)
--[] Help cloud your enemies sight. [2 AP]
--[] Counter your enemies blocking your sight. [2 AP]
--[] Improve Your Sight.(3 AP), +5 to your rolls on Enemy Action, more Information on action results. Cost increases +1 AP each time.) (Current Roll: +7) (Level 1 Sight)
--[] Send a Omen to the World. (5 AP. ??? Effects, mostly beneficial to Xiaomei.)

-[] Celestial Intrigue Actions (mixed) (+25 to rolls (+10 this world))
--[] Covertly Repair the Tree of the Heavens (2 FP 2 AP): This action is repeatable up to Xiaomei's level. (Current Times: 1/5), and can be repaired by approximately 3.2%.[QM Note: Do not take this more than once a turn unless you want negative consequences. Amount repairable is tied to Xiaomei. Also note the slowdown means the Tree will slowly take more damage.]
--[] Celestial Bureaucracy Anti-Corruption Actions (0/?? Completed)
---[] Clean the General Meeting Spaces (1 AP 10 RP)
---[] Clean the "Secure" Meeting Spaces (2 AP 20 RP) (Light Risk of Retallation)
---[] Clean the Faction Meeting Spaces (4 AP 40 RP) (High Risk of Retaliation)
---[] Further Actions Locked.
---[] Get Books Returned To The Library (10 AP) (Very High Risk of Retaliation)
--[] What has Aphreal been doing (1 AP)
--[] Hong Meiling Actions
---[] (Light Risk) Gain an idea to her resources. (2 AP 20 RP) [Gain Name of Agent]
---[] (Moderate Risk) Investigate her actions. Backtrack how she even was able to interfere with the Celestial Princesses Plans. (3 AP, 2 FP, 10 RP) [Reduced Enemy Effectiveness]
---[] (Moderate Risk) Investigate the trail. See if you can cut off some of her resource base. [Reduced Enemy Resources, Goodwill with the Bureaucracy, +trickle of resources] (3 AP, 3 FP)
---[] (High Risk) Get one of her catspaws removed from their position. This might give you away, though.. [Reduced Enemy Actions] (100 RP, 1 FP, 1 AP)
--[] Xiaomei has inherited the soul of someone who was once a god, and this must meant she was one of the dead gods. That'll take some time but maybe it'll identify the enemy some. (1 AP 5 RP per turn, ??? turns)
--[] Gain some insight into how warping the fate of things works. Event: ????, (1 FP) (Repeatable) (Once per every 5 levels. Next Use: Level 8)
--[] Urgent Times often carry a lot of risk. Gain insight into enemy actions during FP. (4 turns) (1 FP per turn)
--[] Some worlds have no gods that intervene. This could be a problem for Xiaomei. You should investigate ways around it. (2 AP, Must be taken 5 times, does not need to be every turn.)
--[] Incarnation seems risky, but yet the enemy persisted? (3 FP per turn, increased risk.) [Taken 2 Time]
--[] You could use some assistance and resources. (Gain hints as to which actions have what results. But also: gain a slow trickle of resources.) (10 RP and 2 AP per turn, must be taken every turn till completed.) (4 Turns)

-[] RP Pool
--[] Create Magical Items For Sale in the Market: Come up with common magical items. Try for utility over weapons and armor. Inspire an artisan or professional depending on cost to sell them frequently (12 RP to come up with a single per three-week availability, 30 RP for a seller to have them available up to 9 times a turn.) [??? Event][??? Outcome]
--[] Bank RP for later-use. (Banked RP caps at the same cap as unspent.) (Cost: ??? RP)
--[] Spend resources to spawn a friendly organization (Cost 50 RP) (Unavailable; one per this world)
--[] Spend resources to enhance your AP (Improve your magical options) (Gain +1 AP per 55 RP spent.) (Cost increases every +2 AP by +20 RP per AP) (AP is for this world, see transmigration mechanics.) (Taken three times)
--[] Spend resources to make your interference less obvious to potential watchers in the Bureaucracy. (Enemy difficulty to directly affect your DCs increases, your bonus on opposing them increases. Cost: 170 RP.) (Actions taken 3 time.)
--[] Spend 5 RP per "suggestion" to have Xiaomei replace one of "Melee Attack, Ranged Attack, Spellcasting Skill (Concentration, Tranquility, Spellcasting, Use Magical Device), 3 random spells, Dodge, Block or Parry, One Knowledge Skill" with another skill she knows to train it. (Limit: 4 suggestions)
--[] Spend resources in aiding someone. (Cost: Variable)
---[] [Keria] A Deity. This will usually be some form of a power up. This could be bad or good. (Insufficient Sight to Have More Information)
---[] [Celestial Bureaucracy] You may be sealed up, but you know the ways of things. Grease palms to get things done. This will primarly have ??? benefits, as you're paying for information or slowing down event chains. (Unlocked by the Intrique action completing) (Explain the cost and what you're looking for for that cost. Assume you'll need at least 35RP to get anything useful.)
--[] Create Power/Origin Item [Multi-term] [Expensive] [Awareness Increase] [Defiance Decrease] (Cost: 45 RP other turns.) (Unavailable in Urgent Times. This will become unavailable if Xiaomei has a Transcendend Boundaries moment.)
--[] Spend resources to create very bad luck for someone.. (Write-In, explain. Better explanations decrease cost, may have other benefits.)(Cost: 70 RP)

-[] FP Pool
--[] Spend X points of FP to get more random encounters for Xiaomei. (1 FP = 2 encounters)
--[] Bend Fate. (Awareness +5)(This is a visible warping of fate, obvious to Xiaomei and the enemy, as well as anyone of sufficient magical power. Certain things cost more FP.) (1 FP, ??? Effects.)(Spend more FP to increase the effects. Awareness increases by 3 per FP spent.)
---[] Change the history of an organization (Base Cost: 2 FP. Please explain the change, and why.
---[] Set an encounter for Xiaomei to change the fate of someone. (Explain why, and who. Base Cost:2 FP. Note if this is something impossible it'll convert to a quest. Note that she cannot see Quests.)
---[] Ask a local deity for assistance in giving Xiaomei a quest. (Cost: 2 FP, locked. They may not be something you want, but unless you pick badly, it should always be something good for Xiaomei, or a lesson, etc.)
--[] Set One Good Roll to .. (30/1 FP, 50/2 FP, 70/3 FP) (Specify if it's one of Xiaomei's rolls, or yours. Default: yours)
--[] Ensure a fateful meeting is positive for character. [Follow-Up Cost] (+7 FP, ??? effects, +?? Awareness)(If no person met is specified, this is QM's choice. The more FP spent here, the more positive effects, basically.) (Has a chance for follow up RP or FP costs depending on encounter.) (Action taken 4 times)
--[] Change the Fate of a Character. Note that more blatant displays of divine power will increase Awareness and possibly Defiance. (2 FP)
--[] Cause a sidequest to appear for Xiaomei. (2FP, spend additional FP to make it easier or increase effects.) (Write in quest in *detail.* Note better rewards might make the quest very annoying if you do not also spend more FP, and Xiaomei cannot see the quest details yet.)
--[] Spawn technology or magic in the world (Unavailable on Keria) (2 FP starting cost. The better the magic or tech, the more FP you should allot)
--[] Place an OPA in her path. (6 FP)(OPA - Out of Place Artifact. Detail this. Note the effects will be negative/positive.) (One per world)

---

Tangentially, since it came up, when I think of songs to guide me about how to write Xiaomei, this comes up pretty often Subterranan Animism - Lullaby of Deserted Hell

Enemy Actions

Action 1: They attempt to put a Divine Curse on Xiaomei again
Roll: 1d100+45-4(Labryinth)+5(Direct Target Xiaomei Bonus) vs 1d100+5(Sight)+10 (Senian Bonus)+15(Positive Relations with Kerian Pantheon)+10 (Xiaomei Resist)+10(Your Bonus) =>1d100+46 vs 1d100+50 => 43 v 93; Major Failure
Lose One Action Next Turn

Your Actions

- Get Xiaomei a fortunate encounter (2 AP. Spend +2 AP to make it more fortunate.)
See below..

- Improve Your Sight. +5 to your rolls on Enemy Action, more Information on action results. Cost increases +1 AP each time.) (Current Roll: +12) (Level 2 Sight)

You spend time to recarve the linegrams and improve the sight. You now get more information about potential questlines, and it's cheaper trying to do certain intrique actions.

[More information about options now visible]

You can see more clearly how the fiefdoms are sapping the resources of Heaven, but why?

- Covertly Repair the Tree of the Heavens: This action is repeatable up to Xiaomei's level. (Current Times: 2/5), and can be repaired by approximately 3.2%.

1d100+30=> 122; Sublime Success; Progress Multiplied *1.25

As before, Xiaomei seems to direct her energy, but it is quite weird. Come to think of it, the Tree of the Heavens doesn't really exist in the Heavens, does it?...

[Progress: +4%]
Still, the Internal Affairs Bureau can actually move about without needing to expend so much power, so now it's merely inefficient.

[Enemy Actions decreased by 1 for 3 turns. This becomes permament at 40% Repair.]

- Clean the General Meeting Spaces
1d100+30 => DC 50/80/120 (+1 success/+2 successes) => 123 [3 succeses]
- Clean the Secure Meeting Spaces
1d100+30 => DC 50/80/120 => 73 [1 success]

1d100+21 ??? => 62 vs DC 50; Retaliation
1d100+146 ??? Attack on Xiaomei vs 1d100+50 (Xiaomei Defense) => 151 vs 138; Success

Xiaomei gains Defiance +20, Awareness +20 (All costs now *1.2, increased chance of Xiaomei rejecting benefical aid.)

Xiaomei is reduced to half HP/MP/Qi for this turn, lose Fortunate Encounter action (Blocks further effects on Xiaomei)

You sweep an impossibly large amount of space, but only clear the Secure and General spaces. Well, "you". The Internal Bureau does, following your directions. You can almost *see* the glee coming off them at finally being able to do their jobs, and in some cases, their portfolios.

It was going well until you saw a bolt from Hong Meiling strike Keria.. and you get the feeling that Xiaomei is quite angry at the Heavens.

The agents seem also angry, but suggest to you that the Labryinth's Oversight Office and the Chapel of the Void could use a good checking through. The few that seem angry shake their head. They won't explain why to you.
(Unlocked some follow up actions.)

- City Beacon Totem: A totem traditionally made of simple design involving a pillar with a ball ontop, and about 2 feet tall- though it may take on any artistic expression, so long as they fall somewhere around these parameters. The idea is that they are to be placed within easy reach of the populous, and a task assigned to it. If someone with applicable skills puts their hand on the top of it and concentrates for about 10 seconds, they will perceive a bright light in the direction of the task. Tasks may be as broad or specific as possible, but if a specific task is completed, the totem crumbles. As described in their name, each totem may only work in the general populated area that they've been activated in.
[12 RP option selected]

The Adventurer's Guild instantly contracts the makers for an exclusitivity contract. Such a thing would be beneficial for D-rank and C-rank adventurers..

[Continued in Xiaomei Actions]

[Pheonix City gains more Adventurer Guild HQ services. +Economy, +Adventurer Growth (+Defenses)]

- Spend resources to enhance your AP (Improve your magical options)

You feel your ability to perform actions increased. Just in time, you think, for Xiaomei to be less likely to cooperate.

- Order of the White Hawk has long ago, in reaction to being suppressed, created a branch called the 'Night Hawks' which act as both spies and assassins for the greater call of freedom for all. Members tend to have a strong association to the goddess of night. [87 RP spent]

"It was soon realized that the Order of the White Hawk, as much as it tried to stay within the bounds of the law, simply couldn't. Thus, a secret circle formed, with the blessing of Alcriah.

They did not claim any name. But soon, they were called the Night Hawks. It wasn't until the Year 217 of the Peace of Tair that their true strength and purpose was made clear:

To ensure that those who would hide behind the law to spread tyranny found no peace, no shield. And in this, the Night Hawks became a legend of hope and fear across Keria."

Click to expand...

Click to shrink...

Scribe Kariani, The Flight of the Pheonix: The Foundation of Pheonix City.

(Pheonix City gains Extensive counter intelligence defenses, School Upgrade unlocked, all upgrades completed due to "Night Hawk" funding.)

- Ask a local deity for assistance in giving Xiaomei a quest. (Cost: 2 FP, locked. They may not be something you want, but unless you pick badly, it should always be something good for Xiaomei, or a lesson, etc.) [Tarizeih: Goddess of Knowledge and Magic. Sigil: A quill and book.]


Resolved in Xiaomei Actions.

Xiaomei Actions

Training Results:
Summary: Melee Attacks: +1 skill, Persuasion +2, Craft(Magical Armor/Armor) +2, Knowledge(Kerian Mysteries) +4, Tranquility: +4

Xiaomei spends her training trying to center herself after that sudden bolt and anger. She can feel how her anger clouds her movements, and makes her move unnecessarily, while also working futily on learning how to dispel. She didn't omit the rest of her progress, but..

She also stubbornly spends a week casting Dispel on herself. Even after 50 casts, she didn't feel all that different.

[Dispel now L5.]

- Ask a local deity for assistance in giving Xiaomei a quest. ([Tarizeih: Goddess of Knowledge and Magic. Sigil: A quill and book.])

Xiaomei dreams one night of walking in a library impossibly large and full, and has to focus on why she was there.

"You can look around." The Goddess smiles - Xiaomei has to resist the urge to get angry. "I wish to have you help me, so a early boon would not be amiss."

Xiaomei .. is reasonable about this. She decides to trust to luck, and..

[1d100+29 => 86 + 29 => 115; Divine Inspiration]

.. and finds a scroll talking about Mastery of the Self, as written down by the Heavenly Star Sect. The goddess, a carefully bland elvish woman with a book she writes down in, smiles as Xiaomei devours it, reading it repeatedly and clearly while trying to think about how it puts together.

[1d100+25 Understanding Check vs DC 100 => 101; Success]
[In the light of the Milky Way, everything becomes enlightenment. Gain the next tier of Inner Strength; Spiritual Sea expanded]
[Meditant: True Mastery of Self is fundamental to being a righteous warrior. [+10 progress]
[Gain Mastery of Self technique.]
[Merge Qi and MP together, creating a unified Qi pool.]


".. I admit, I didn't quite expect you to find that." She muses. "But it is one of the great treatises written by the Monks of this world. I do not think it is what you will become though. But I can give you some advice, if you are willing."

Xiaomei fights back the urge to ask people to stop meddling. Her patron had helpe- why was she so angry?

Taking a deep breath, she activates the new technique, and can see the energy around her shrouding her and through her meridians, corrupting her Qi.

[1d100+11 Tranquility+11 Internal Energy+12 VIT=>1d100+33 vs DC95 => 106; Success]
[Xiaomei has expelled the Divine Curse.]

The goddess smiles as Xiaomei bows in apology. "No need. A powerful curse like that would twist one of us, and you do not yet have the things you need. It is in this vein I would like to ask you to do something for us, and in return, you shall find something useful."

Xiaomei took a deep breath. "I'd assist you, in general, if it was worth doing."

Tarizeih nods. "Yes, but your destiny beacons you onward. I need you to clean Keria of a cult perverting my knowledge - meant to help - into something meant to kill. Investigate the Village of Zari's Rest.. and I have a general piece of advice. Your magic is dependent on having access to the mana of Keria...and you face several threats you are not yet ready to handle. Some of these threats are not ones you can fight off with weapons, or magic, but ones you can only fight off with words, and surety."

She looks out as the world begins to fade. "The tools you seek are in yourself, Ci Xiaomei. The one you wait for is out there. You must merely walk your road.. in the knowledge that we will forever assist our beloved sister how we can." The last she isn't sure she heard but she bolts awake, feeling alive in ways she hasn't before.

[Gain Quest "Investigate the village of Zari's Rest, Objectives: Find the Village of Zari's Rest, Reach the Village of Zari's Rest, Disepl the Miasma, Defeat the Mysterious Celebrant, Destroy the Orb; Bonus Objectives: Find the Letter of the Celebrant, Find the Hidden Chamber, Restore the Mana Flow, Defeat Yourself; Rewards: +650 XP, Spellbook (Elemental Spells), Technique Book(Jigen Hao-Ryu), Treatise of Artifact Infusion (Inferior, Incomplete); Bonus Rewards: +700 XP, Treatise of Artifact Infusion II (Superior, Incomplete), +1 Moment of Transcending Yourself, Treatise of Bardic Magic.]

As she performed her morning rituals, she thought about what the Goddess had said. Clearly, she needed to more internalize her magic and use her arts more constantly.. but she had never heard of this village. Neither had the Captain, or her mom. She found a map and frowned. There were too many potential places where a village could hide, so she needed to think of a way to narrow it down

[1d100+20 vs DC 60 => 59; Minor Failure]
[1d100+17 Luck reroll vs DC 65 => 100;]

But she couldn't think of one. It was then that she knocked a book off with her tails, still sometimes getting used to her tails moving more aggressively. She picked the book up, and noted with some surprise it was called "An Tale of The Hamlets of Dalzi, and points southwards."

She was surely lucky to get it,and she opened it to find it.. was very dry. Still, she read through it, and then went back to the map, copying it and then drawing lines and marks.

[1d100+20 vs DC 50 => 78; Success]

She didn't find any village like it, but began to notice something peculiar. Roads and villages all seemed to leave a hole located on the Southwest edge of the forest, on a river. Perfect place for a village.. and maybe one she'd hide.

[Objective: "Find Zari's Rest" complete.]

Xiaomei set off at once, and almost immediately, she was finding herself trying to walk off the path. She focused on that feeling, and..

[1d100+32 (Concentration)+20(Mastery of Self)=> 1d100+52 vs DC 60 => 100; Success]

.. and it disappeared. She looked at the faint mist with distrust, and, focusing on the feeling of wanting it blown away, called out
["The Force of the Clensing Gale"]

The mist blew off, revealing desolate farmland, with twisted shades of monsters.

Xiaomei wished then she hadn't agreed, and with a longing thought to the guns she once knew, began the grim work of warding them off.

A few hours later, of fairly constant effort, she reached the village. She had to periodically use the same technique again, and found understanding in using it with the forces of nature rather than against,.

[Objectives Complete: Reach the Village of Zari's Rest, Dispel the Miasma]

She rather wished she hadn't.

[1d100+33 Tranquility Check vs DC 70; 90 vs 70]

Whoever came through here had been extraordinarily cruel and more to the point, had deliberatly preserved the corpses. Xiaomei was quite incensed, but kept herelf under check.

There was a light from what probably used to be the village chief's house. Xiaomei steeled herself, and tried to sneak up on it

[Stealth auto-fails]

"You cannot hide your prescense at all." The voice is mocking, and Xiaomei reflexiely lights her sword, and deflects a dark glowing blade. Xiaomei eyes the nyaakit dressed in black with ..

[1d100+35 Knowledge(Kerian Mysteries) vs DC 90 => 130; Major Success]

"...." Xiaomei looks expressionately at the nyaakit. Somehow that symbol of the Gnawing Void just offended her on every level. She then unleashes a rapid set of palm strikes as she brings the blade around in another hand. It was something she had thought about, and she was reminded of why you don't live test combat tactics like this. The overwhelming bit was working, but without trying the palm strikes first, it couldn't flow naturally, and she was leaving tiny openings. After a second, she stopped. If she could see the obvious weaknesses, she trusted the nyaakit woman could too. She moved to a defensive stance just in time, and began to bring up her magic. The resulting magical blasts began to destroy the village as they began a race to outfight.

[1d100+29 vs 1d100+20 (Xiaomei vs ???) => 104 vs 80; Xiaomei Success]

In the end, it was a stumble of a second, but it was enough for Xiaomei to unleash a surprise Magic Missile attack, followed by a rapid burning slash and a furious blows of techniques, even using the song spell taught to her by the ghost of the Hero, which seemed to inflict pain on the nyaakit. This last bit proved to be too much, and she fell over, dead.

The mysterious nyaakit fell down, dead. The village had been even more wrecked. Xiaomei looked around to see if she could find any clue as to what was going on here

[1d100+49 Perception vs DC 100 => 97 + 49 => 146; Critical Success]

A letter that had fallen out and was partially in water revealed the answer. Xiaomei read it, understanding now why such good land had no settlements in it, and the mines went untapped. It was deliberate. There was a spot here that was once holy to the gods, and provided them with a conduit to Keria. It had been corrupted, and she would have to purify it to stop this 'Order of the Sunlight Glade'.

With a wary thought, she approached the building, and in the center of a crudely built alter drenched in blood was a black orb, and Xiaomei wasted no time in destroying it. Elemental attacks didn't work, but when she tapped into her ability to channel aetheric mana, it began to crack and implode.

Collecting what she could find, she went to look for the hidden chamber. It took some time, but she found it. If she didn't know it was there, she wasn't sure she'd ever find it.

And once she entered, she didn't like how it felt. Stilling.. Cold.. Static. Still, she pushed forward down the tunnel, which by her internal tracking, had to be a good few hundred meters.

The tunnel became marble with the gemstones inlaid causing an nearly iridiscent rainbow effect. If it wasn't for the feeling, and the malicious power, Xiaomei might even enjoy it.

Xiaomei reached the end, and saw the mana-flow being capped and sent.. somewhere. Before she could even appraoch it, a reflection of her formed. More beautiful, she vaguely thought, and with a radiance she didn't feel earned. And, the two fell into attacking each other.

And soon, Xiaomei realized the echo was her equal, as the other kitsune smirked and toyed with her.

But even if she fell, she wouldn't fall with-

[A memory surfaced, "Go Beyond!"]

-out giving it more than her all.

Xiaomei pushed herself, moving fastr than she thought was safe, and soon, faster than she thought she could, her tails glowing a mystical color as she pushed herself to her fullest. Her blows hit a little more stronger. Her techniques became a mite sharper, a more more powerful, and the other Xiaomei looked in bewilderment, even as she was forced to slowly give ground.

"H-How, could somoene like you?! You don't even know who you are!"

Xiaomei bared her teeth in a parody of a smile. "I am a righteous warrior, and today is a good day to die!" She brings her light-blade in an arc, and continues the deadly and blazing dance, noting to herself she could use a second blade if she wanted to experiment with this form. "And if I must fight myself, I will win!" Her blade sliced through the weak blade of darkness.

Okay, so it was chuuni, but Xiaomei had a long day, fighting at the edge of her strength for most of it. She felt she could get away with it.

"Go Beyond!" Her blade seemed to blade and swell as she brought it back in an arc to slice the dark echo's arms that dissolved into nothing. "PLUS ULTRA!" and then beheaded her in the same fluid movement, the echo falling into motes that seemed to swell into Xiaomei before dispersing, and a fourth tail popped out.

[Gain Fourth Tail, Gain Fourth Tail Power: Create Illusions, as if it was a L3 spell. These are exceptionally believable.]

[Quest Progress: +1 Moment of Exceeding Yourself]

Xiaomei felt peculiar, and.. was glad no one was watching her. Her face was red with embarassment. She wasn't that young girl anymore..

She studied the cap, and then shattered it. When it fell, a tattered shrine and holy sigils and charms fell out. It looked to be an old fashioned shrine to the heavens, with most of the gods representated. She spotted Khalia and Tarizieh. She put it in her spiritual sea, as well as the belongings and anything else of value, and went to leave, the air turning a pure, almost relaxing feeling.

Of course, the ruined and defiled village greeted her, and she began the process of burying the dead, sending prayers, purifying the land, setting everything on fire, using one of the new spellbooks to mold the earth into an Obelisk of Rememberance. It was midnight before she set back out, and this time she flash stepped back. She had to report back, and she wanted her bed, if even for an hour or so.

Xiaomei reported in the next morning, having bent sent directly to bed, and when she mentioned the Gnawing Void, the Adventuerer Guild's leader, now a part of the governing council' permament reprenstatives, a minority in the mostly elected council, went pale.

"Nyaakit, female, pink hair?"

Xiaomei blinks. "I hadn't mentioned it, but yes."

"She was reported dead thirty year ago. I know, I slew her. She was a cultist trying to destroy a city." The rep said, thinking. "Continue."

Xiaomei finished up about the font. "That's .. hm." The Guard Captain said. "That would track, I think. Many priestesses found their connections weakning about twenty-eight years ago. And it'd take some time to erase a village from existance on records. Still.. to know that cults were using this as a staging ground means we'll need to push patrols."

Everyone groaned, seeing the logic but knowing that it'd be a while. Recruitment for the Guard, civilian or military was slow, properly because the City knew it'd be always outmanned, so it'd have to rely on quality.

It was.. unsettling. How did the Moncolisan Empire and Grand Duchy of Molia missed all this? That raised an even more dire thought.

[Quest Complete. Gain +1350 XP, Spellbook (Elemental Spells), Technique Book (Jigen Hao-Ryu), Treatise of Artifact Infusion Pts I and II (Inferior, Superior), +1 Moment of Transcending Yourelf, Treaties of Bardic Magic, Fourth Tail]

A temple was setup, with a restored and blessed shrine in the center, and the Priestesses and Celebrants reporting they had a more clearer and joyous connection with their gods.

[Pheonix City gets a Temple of the Divines; School Upgrade "Training of Joy" is available after donating 21pc. Word spreads, and Pheonix City gets a stream of eager worshippers, boosting it's economy. It also gets mentioned a lot more for ill and good, as well.]
[Xiaomei's defiance drops by 6, as she sees that the Heavens aren't out to dictate her life, or to hurt her.. at least.. not everbody..]

You have 180 RP, 12 AP, 8 FP to spend on actions.


Relations with Kerian Pantheon: Very Good
AP: 12 (4 Bonus AP persists until end of this world.)
RP: 180 (30 Bonus RP persists until end of this world)
RP Storage (Urgent): 70 RP
RP Storage (non-Urgent): 0 RP (1080 RP cap)
Enemy Rolls vs You: +41 (+10 Enemy Bonus +35 Enemy Bonus -4 Labryinth Progress)
Enemy Chance to Detect Your Action: 80% (1d100 on rolls >20)
Enemy Rolls vs Xiaomei: ????
Labryinth of Regret Repair Progress: 2/10 [Enemy takes -4 to all rolls]
Tree of the Heavens Health: 36.95% [Penalties: Many Pantheons unable to intervene locally; Celestial Operatives Have No Oversight; Heavenly Resources Constrained; Celestial Bureacracy Internal Affairs Bureau: Inefficient] (2/5 Times)
Incarnation Investigation: 1 Success; 1 Heat Meter
FP: 8 (11 completed quests.) (1 FP spent per turn)

Enemy: Hong Meiling; Rep: ???
[Stats on Enemy Blocked]
+82 to resist enemy action or overcome enemy block attempt. (+45 this world only.)(+10 for 2 turns)
Sight: +12 (Mystical) (Gain more information, including the current of Fate, and a +15 to resist enemy.)
[4 turns to attempt to decrease your bonus by (35/2???)]

Ci Xiaomei (Cilia) Awareness: 32/300
Ci Xiaomei Defiance: 19 (Medium)
Ci Xiaomei Level: 6 XP: 900/3500
Ci Xiaomei Defense against ????: +10
Event Notes: Certain Events in the Next World Locked; Dao of Luck ??? Event Unlocked


Effects:

• (gain +3 morale to rolls for 1 turns)

Levelup

You add 1 stat point to the pool on level up. See the Mechanics: Stat Growth for how much things cost. If you don't want to spend it, you can add it to the pool for later use.
Pool Status: 0 pts

-[ ] Spend Point On:
--[ ] Write In
-[ ] Add Point to Pool for Later Use

Skills get 6 stat points, with no skill advancing more than 3 ranks. See Mechanics: Skill Growth for how much things cost. You can choose to add unspent points to a pool.

-[ ] Spend Points On:
--[ ] Write In.
-[ ] Save Skill Points for Later Use

You can pick a feat/ability. Please keep in line with powers on sheet or demonstrated in the quest.
-[ ] Write In: (name) (desc)

-[] AP Pool
--[] Get Xiaomei a fortunate encounter (2 AP. Spend +2 AP to make it more fortunate.)
--[] Burn AP to reveal a hint about an ongoing quest. (1 AP for subquests, 2 AP for Main quests.)
--[] Improve RP Pool (34 AP for +10 RP. Cost triples every 3 AP spent. RP cost increase is for this world, see transmigration mechanics.) (Taken three times)
--[] Help cloud your enemies sight. (2 AP)
--[] Counter your enemies blocking your sight. (2 AP)
--[] Improve Your Sight.(45 AP), +5 to your rolls on Enemy Action, more Information on action results. Cost increases +1 AP each time.) (Current Roll: +12) (Level 2 Sight)
--[] Send a Omen to the World. (56 AP. ??? Effects, mostly beneficial to Xiaomei.)

-[] Celestial Intrigue Actions (mixed) (+30 to rolls (+10 this world))
--[] Covertly Repair the Tree of the Heavens (2 FP 2 AP): This action is repeatable up to Xiaomei's level. (Current Times: 2/5), and can be repaired by approximately 3.2%.[QM Note: Do not take this more than once a turn unless you want negative consequences. Amount repairable is tied to Xiaomei. Also note the slowdown means the Tree will slowly take more damage.] [At 40%, Enemy loses one action permamently] [10% chance Xiaomei refuses to perform this action]
--[] Celestial Bureaucracy Anti-Corruption Actions (3/?? Completed)
---[] Clean the Faction Meeting Spaces (3 4 AP 30 36 RP) (High Risk of Retaliation vs Xiaomei, Divine Effect)
---[] (Unlocked) Investigate and Purify the Chapel of the Void (2 AP 25 30 RP)[Event: Xiaomei gains an Ability, History Event] [Makes Risk of Retaliation Lowered]
---[] (Unlocked) Investigate the Labyrinth Oversight Office (2 AP 10 12 RP)[Leads to ??? Event]
---[] Further Actions Locked.
---[] Get Books Returned To The Library (10 12 AP) (Very High Risk of Retaliation) (7 Actions Required Completed)
--[] What has Aphreal been doing (1 AP)
--[] Hong Meiling Actions
---[] (Light Risk) Gain an idea to her resources. (1 AP 10 12 RP) [Gain Name of Agent]
---[] (Moderate Risk) Investigate her actions. Backtrack how she even was able to interfere with the Celestial Princesses Plans. (2 AP, 1 FP, 10 12 RP) [Reduced Enemy Effectiveness]
---[] (Moderate Risk) Investigate the trail. See if you can cut off some of her resource base. [Reduced Enemy Resources, Goodwill with the Bureaucracy, +trickle of resources] (3 4 AP, 3 4 FP)
---[] (High Risk) Get one of her catspaws removed from their position. This might give you away, though.. [Reduced Enemy Actions] (100120 RP, 1 FP, 1 AP)
--[] Xiaomei has inherited the soul of someone who was once a god, and this must meant she was one of the dead gods. That'll take some time but maybe it'll identify the enemy some. (1 AP 5 6 RP per turn, 9 turns)
--[] Gain some insight into how warping the fate of things works. Event: Random Divine Encounter, (1 FP) (Repeatable) (Once per every 5 levels. Next Use: Level 8)
--[] Urgent Times often carry a lot of risk. Gain insight into enemy actions during FP. (4 turns) (1 FP per turn)
--[] Some worlds have no gods that intervene. This could be a problem for Xiaomei. You should investigate ways around it. (2 AP, Must be taken 5 times, does not need to be every turn.)
--[] Incarnation seems risky, but yet the enemy persisted? (3 4 FP per turn, increased risk.) [Taken 2 Times]
--[] You could use some assistance and resources. (Gain hints as to which actions have what results. But also: gain a slow trickle of resources.) (1012 RP and 2 AP per turn, must be taken every turn till completed.) (4 Turns)

-[] RP Pool
--[] Create Magical Items For Sale in the Market: Come up with common magical items. Try for utility over weapons and armor. Inspire an artisan or professional depending on cost to sell them frequently (12 14 RP to come up with a single per three-week availability, 30 36 RP for a seller to have them available up to 9 times a turn.) [Market Event][Historical Outcome]
--[] Work with Kerian Pantheon to create resource deposits for Pheonix City. They will ask for a favor in return. (Cost: 30 36 RP, +2 encounters spent on Xiaomei, +1 potential quest, possiblity of locked AP/FP expenditure for 2 turns.)
--[] Bank RP for later-use. (Banked RP caps at the same cap as unspent.) (Cost: ??? RP)
--[] Spend resources to enhance your AP (Improve your magical options) (Gain +1 AP per 55 66 RP spent.) (Cost increases every +2 AP by +20 24 RP per AP) (AP is for this world, see transmigration mechanics.) (Taken three times)
--[] Spend resources to make your interference less obvious to potential watchers in the Bureaucracy. (Enemy difficulty to directly affect your DCs increases, your bonus on opposing them increases. Cost: 170 204 RP.) (Actions taken 3 times.)
--[] Spend 5 6 RP per "suggestion" to have Xiaomei replace one of her training times with another skill or spell she knows to train it. (Limit: 6 suggestions per turn)
--[] Create a Spell. (Cost: 40 48 RP)
--- Note that it must be *in line* with generally shown stuff. Song magic will get better results. Please refrain from now from creating Kamehameha or Dragon Slave expys. Is prone to approval.
--[] Spend resources in aiding someone. (Cost: Variable)
---[] [Keria] A Deity. This will usually be some form of a power up. This could be bad or good. (Insufficient Sight to Have More Information)
---[] [Celestial Bureaucracy] You may be sealed up, but you know the ways of things. Grease palms to get things done. This will primarly have ??? benefits, as you're paying for information or slowing down event chains. (Unlocked by the Intrique action completing) (Explain the cost and what you're looking for for that cost. Assume you'll need at least 35 42 RP to get anything useful.)
--[] Spend resources to create very bad luck for someone.. (Write-In, explain. Better explanations decrease cost, may have other benefits.)(Cost: 70 84 RP)

-[] FP Pool
--[] Burn 2 FP for -10 Defiance (Can take as many times as you want.) (Cost goes up every fifth time)
--[] Burn 2 FP for -5 Awareness (Can take as many times as you want.) (Cost goes up every fifth time)
--[] Spend X points of FP to get more random encounters for Xiaomei. (1 FP = 2 encounters)
--[] Send an inspiration for new defense mechanisms or types to .. (1 FP, 2 FP if Xiaomei)
--[] Bend Fate. (Awareness +5)(This is a visible warping of fate, obvious to Xiaomei and the enemy, as well as anyone of sufficient magical power. Certain things cost more FP.) (1 FP, ??? Effects.)(Spend more FP to increase the effects. Awareness increases by 3 per FP spent.)
---[] Change the history of an organization (Base Cost: 2 FP. Please explain the change, and why.
---[] Set an encounter for Xiaomei to change the fate of someone. (Explain why, and who. Base Cost:2 FP. Note if this is something impossible it'll convert to a quest. Note that she cannot see Quests.)
---[] Ask a local deity for assistance in giving Xiaomei a quest. (Cost: 2 FP, locked. They may not be something you want, but unless you pick badly, it should always be something good for Xiaomei, or a lesson, etc.)
--[] Set One Good Roll to .. (30/1 FP, 50/2 FP, 70/3 FP) (Specify if it's one of Xiaomei's rolls, or yours. Default: yours)
--[] Ensure a fateful meeting is positive for character. [Follow-Up Cost] (+78 FP, ??? effects, +?? Awareness)(If no person met is specified, this is QM's choice. The more FP spent here, the more positive effects, basically.) (Has a chance for follow up RP or FP costs depending on encounter.) (Action taken 4 times)
--[] Change the Fate of a Character. Note that more blatant displays of divine power will increase Awareness and possibly Defiance. (2 FP)
--[] Cause a sidequest to appear for Xiaomei. (2FP, spend additional FP to make it easier or increase effects.) (Write in quest in *detail.* Note better rewards might make the quest very annoying if you do not also spend more FP, and Xiaomei cannot see the quest details yet.)

---

A tracker for development of the city is up. Sorry for how long this took. I'm looking into ways to radically simplify it, if anyone has any ideas. I suspect, strongly, part of it is the fact we're developing a city, though.

Costs will return to normal at under 15% defiance. Sheet will be upgraded later. (I wanted to get this done before I went to sleep)

The end of the year approached with the typical heat. One thing many were unhappy about was the new climate - intensely hot temperatures combined with omnipresent humidity.

One of the new experiments of some artisans was being tested in the Adventurer's Guild, and the Magi Guild had sent over someone to help adminster tests.

A lot of the Magi were working on a way to keep houses and buildings cool and dryer, but the people working on it were busily working on ways to keep cool when outside, especially guards.

The head of the local guild, Takar, reflected sourly that inventors were often easily to distract. Still, the current item, was worth it.

They had tested with D-rank tasks, and C-rank tasks, and B-rank tasks.. and A-rank tasks.

There were no S-rank adventurers here, but he could already see how this could radically redesign the exams. There had always been problems with exclusion, but the solo exam could be changed to use this to determine if someone was capable of doing it, and then sending them on the quest to see that they could execute.

It was then when Cilia walked in, and he had a bit of an idea. He went over to talk to the Magi about a potential use of one of them.

"Hey, Cilia." The four-tailed kitsune turned to him, a bit of an inquisitive look in her eyes. He noted enviously how she seemed unaffected by the weather - one of the things about Meditants that everyone admired was them converting even hardship into ability. The magi was busy laying out 5 pyramids.

"Need something, Guildmaster?"

"I'd appreciate it if you could put your hand over each, and concentrate for 10 seconds while you do so. We're performing an experiment with these."

Cilia nodded, and methodically reported a bright light in various directions.. but most worrying, the S-rank task appeared directly overhead.

Wait, the *S-rank task?*

Dazed, the Guildmaster thanked her for the information. Even he couldn't see the light, and by the end of the day, no one else had either.