Finding Our Way: A Warring States Naruto AU/WHFB Quest

The darkness that surrounds me is comforting.

Ka*****

It is tranquil and blissful in a way that my life has been unlike for the past few months, I have no desire to leave it.

Kann***

Ahh~ This is so nice- "AAAAH what the hell!"

My peace is ruined! Shock and terror flood through me as I am brought out of my peaceful na- meditation by a bucket of cold water being thrown at my person! Who would dare do such a thing!

With bleary eyes I look at Raizou smirking down at me, bucket in his hand as Ahim stands beside him, his back towards me staring at the wall.

Treachery!

"Come on now little cousin, nap time is over. We have big things we must get to, like our yearly Jounin council meeting, yes?" With that malevolent smirk still on his face Raizou spoke with a voice that oozed honey and poison.

"Was it necessary to do that? You couldn't have woken me up like a normal person?!" I grit through my teeth.

"Ahim tried to do just that for the past ten minutes. But since he lacks the courage to take more… effective measures against his scary big sister', I took it upon myself to carry them out." As he spoke those words Ahim just shamefully nodded his head, Raizou then at least offered a cup of steaming hot coffee, a generous gift considering our very limited supply.

"... Fuck you." Unable to argue against him I swiped the mug out of his hand and began to sip of the ambrosia of life as we walked out of my office towards the conference hall where Prema, Miyoharu and Akeem were all sitting and waiting.

We were all weary and exhausted, bags under their eyes and steaming pots of coffee distributed to try and give us the strength to get through the day.

As I sit at the head of the table, Raizou and Ahim take their seats and we begin the meeting.

I turn to my traitor of a little brother, who I will punish later for refusing to defend me, to start us off.

"Report Jounin Ahim."

---

State of Clan:


"We've recruited a good number of Genin last year but I fear that the threats of this world are going to demand we expand our recruitment pool and fast, both to have a pool of shinobi to replace casualties but to start preparing forces for our future high ranking nin to lead." He stroked his chin for a second as he thought.

"But also of priority is us distributing equipment and specialists appropriately for whatever battlefields we got to spill blood." He spoke with sharp eyes as he mulled over a final thought.

"At the end of the day it's your call big sis but I don't suggest splitting the difference, we should focus on one or the other, at least for this year."

Martial: 2 Actions Available.

[] Boost Recruitment: Now more than ever we must build up the forces of the clan by recruiting more Genin. We will focus our efforts this year on supervising the recruitment, supervision of the trails and take a personal hand in training the appropriate Chunin to lead them. Add 10 +2d10 of Genin this turn to your passive recruitment and can be selected as many times as you want.
Cost: Ninja Recruitment cost, one year.

[] Taijutsu Manuals: Ahim is the clan's most skilled Taijutsu warrior, and he doesn't like writing so force him to record his techniques no matter how much he bitches. Increase melee stat of all Non-Jonin Shinobi by 3, open up more martial actions, keep martial options that would be lost if Ahim dies.
Cost: Ahim cannot be deployed for one turn.
Chance of Success: 70%

[] Distribute Kishibe Mark 1s: The excellently made Kishibe Mark 1 Puppet system is now in full production and we can begin to distribute them amongst our Genin.
Cost: 9'000 Gold. 1 Year.
Assign 10 Kishibes to a Genin squad of your choice. Plus +5 to their respective Company's mercenary and martial action rolls.

[] Basic Kenjutsu manuals: The Samurai of the Shimazu clan are generously selling scrolls detailing the most basic of their sword style to us. They are quite expensive but Jounin Ahim is confident that he can maximize the value extracted from the purchase.
Cost: 10k Gold. 1 Year.
Ahim reads, studies and then disseminates the knowledge within the scrolls to everyone else, +3 Bonus to all non Jounin Melee stat. Synergizes with Taijutsu Manuals. Unlocks further Kenjutsu actions.

[] Chakra Camel Cavalry: With a steady supply of breeding stock secured your chakra camels are eager to stamp their hooves upon the battlefield once again!
Cost: 10K Gold. 1 Year.
Select 10 Unassigned Genin, Train them into a Chunin level Chakra Cavalry Unit, Assign them as scouts to a Company engaging a mercenary mission for +5 to their roll.

[] Produce and Distribute Fuma Shuriken: Fuma Shuriken are a lovely weapon to have and one your Shinobi are clamoring to have in their kits as a small boost to their ranged capabilities. Set aside a selection of blacksmiths to maintain a rolling production of Fuma shuriken to equip all your forces with. Gives every Shinobi below Jounin +3 in Marksmanship and Ranged Damage.
Cost: 1000 Gold, one year, takes one year.

[] Beastbane Poison distribution: Prema's search for a weapon against the beastmen has borne fruit, now it is up to us to distribute in our arsenals through bombs, coated weapons and prepared vials, to all enlisted shinobi instead of a select few specialists, your Chunin sergeants are pleased at the tactical options it provides.

Cost: 2000 Gold, permanent bonus of +5 to any martial or mercenary actions involving beastmen this turn.

[] Special Tactics Units: Jounin Akeem's battle against the vampires has proven that this world merits the presence of more specialized Shinobi to handle certain threats. We will prepare a team to analyze our shinobi after every military engagement and then pick out those who stand out for more advanced training as specialists.
Costs 5K.
Pick one ten man genin unit assigned to a mercenary action to promote into Tokubetsu level hero unit that can be assigned and deployed to whichever action you want. Unit will be thematically appropriate for the battles they took part in.

(One time offer for y'all, shit's gonna get hard around you. Other hero units going forward will develop naturally through battles or your clan's institutional developments. Hero Units do not promote, they grow stats like your Jounin instead. If all members of a hero unit die the unit is permanently disbanded unless they are assigned to the Institutional Knowledge action.)

[] Institutional Knowledge: We must not forget what we paid in blood to learn!
Cost: Free. Assign a Hero Unit to this action to allow them to reform if all founding members died.
Unavailable no valid targets.

[] Blackpowder production: Guns are one of our new world's most interesting and terrifying products, with but a few chemicals and a well crafted tube of steel you can give a peasant the power to kill a shinobi, we would be fools to not use it ourselves. Jounin Ahim desires to provide every shinobi with the option of a brace black powder pistols, black powder grenades and rifles for their selection. He is also interested in equipping and training civilian auxiliaries in their use. For all this Prema's chemical engineering department will be focused on creating refineries, gunsmithing factories and finding personnel to work in them.
Cost: 30'000 Gold. 5 years, Doton and Jiton traits kick in, 3 years.
+10 Marksmanship to all shinobi units. +15 Ranged and Ranged AP damage to all shinobi units. + 3 Ammo. +5 to all Martial and Mercenary action rolls. Auxiliary Artillery corps action unlocked. Starfort Complexes Unlocked.

[] Starfort Complexes: Rayis Kannika's has proposed the construction of a perimeter of geometrically shaped super fortresses to surround the Clan Compound as an outer ring in conjunction with a maze of Doton created concrete walls that run for dozens of kilometers connecting each of them. The fortresses will be staffed by fifty genin and their attendant commanders and an auxiliary force composed of a battalion of gun equipped civilian auxiliaries with a battery of cannons. This is a massive project that will cost several fortunes and a much more massive force of Shinobi and Auxiliaries than we currently have.

Project not Available. Requires 250 Unassigned Genin, 50 Chunin, 5 Tokubetsu Jounin, 5 Handgunner Battalions and 5 Cannon Battalions. Requires Blackpowder production.
Cost: 300'000 Gold. 10 Years, Doton and Jiton traits kick in, 5 Years. 30k Gold Upkeep per turn.
Rewards: +30 to all compound defense rolls, invasion defense rolls and Bazar Rolls.

---

With the matter of what the military will focus on this year I brought up the question of what mercenary work was available for the clan.

Ahim smiled; it was a cruel and ruthless thing. All teeth, no joy. He was born to be a soldier, born to fight and kill the those who opposed the clan, to live with the pulsing thunder of adrenaline coursing through his veins.

"Big Sis, the west is being invaded by the dead, there are rumbles of the beasts to the north waking, the greenskins march in the south while ogre bands raid in the east. The world around us is on fire and that's good for business. That's good for us." The last words are spoken with an undercurrent of bloodlust, little Ahim wants to travel the world and kill new people, and if it will serve the clan's collective interest I will grant him his wish.

"Cousin, I also put myself forward." Akeem spoke, his usually jovial voice now cold as a desert on a moonless night.

"Do you now?" I asked.

"The same Ghouls that killed our kinsmen, my students and friends are waging a campaign of death and terror in another land." The cup in his hand began to crack as he grit his teeth.

"I swore to young Oliver's weeping parents that I would help protect others from those abominations." The cracks deepened.

"I swore to the young lord Grudgebrand that I would help avenge his father, a Dawi who became my friend." He slammed his fist on the table as an outlet for his barely restrained fury.

"I swore it on the graves of my dead students and to their families that I would slay one hundred of those abominations for every single one of them killed." The mug shattered, ceramic dug into his hand as steaming hot coffee and blood spilled out onto the table.

"Cousin, please allow me and my company to be the ones that serve the clan's needs this year." Ignoring the steaming ambrosia and bleeding in his hand the priest bowed his head in supplication.

I sat back in my chair and thought. 'Why does this clan have so many drama queens?' A sigh escaped my lips.

"Akeem you're bleeding and you spilled some of the last coffee we have, kindly reign your emotions better cousin, this is unlike you." A blush covered his cheeks as he bowed his head.

"I apologize for my loss of self-control." As the chastised priest sat quietly I contemplated my options.

Mercenary Missions: Must pick at least one, can take as many as you like if you have the forces available to do so, specify from which company the forces are coming from. Passing thresholds of success decreases casualties and maximizes rewards.

[] Break Their Hunger: Clan Grudgebrand are seeking our assistance in helping protect their trade caravans coming in through the Mountains of Mourn as there has been an increase of Ogres attacking them, our clients ask that we search and destroy the bastards.
Medium Difficulty Mercenary Mission.
Gain 30-40k in Gold, and experience for all units involved. +10 to any Dawi diplomacy actions this turn.
Chance of Success: 70/50/30%, Takes One year.
Requires one Company.

[] The Vampire Wars I: The Vampire Lord Ottone Emanuele has conquered half of Tilea and declared his mortal descendants the rightful rulers of the whole nation, Millions of bannermen both living and undead march in his name fighting, bleeding and dying for the dream of a newborn empire under the rule of the dead whom he has decreed will stretch from Estalia in the West, Sarasota to the South and Barak Varr to the East. The Cult of Morr has consolidated their forces in their holy capital and have called to arms all the faithful to oppose the undead menace, but they have also opened their coffers to those willing to fight for coin. The cult has sent a representative from a Shinobi clan just like us to present a contract. The money being offered is great and so are the opportunities to cut our shinobi's teeth properly but so are the risks of spilt blood.
Hard Difficulty Mercenary Mission.
Gain 80K-120K in Gold, and experience for all units involved.
Chance of Success: 50/30/10%, Takes One year.
Requires two Companies and Kannika to deploy.

[] Purge the Beasts: The creatures in the forests bordering the mountains stir and they have made their presences known through raids upon the communities bordering their spawning grounds, the cult of Rhya and Taal state these communities are members of their flock and will pay us to help defend them.
Easy Difficulty Mercenary Mission.
Gain 10-20k in Gold, and experience for all units involved.
Chance of Success: 90/70/30%, Takes One year.
Requires one Company.

[] Slit Green Throats: Hordes of the green monstrosities have been seen collecting themselves along the borders that separate Araby and the Badlands, it is a situation that has not only scared traders but state actors in equal measure from the Regency of Barak Varr to the Sultans of Araby, both of them and several other groups have put out hit lists and bounties on the Greenskin leadership leading this development. We can send forces to spend a year in the south collecting heads and turning them in for a fine mint.
Medium Difficulty Mercenary Mission.
Gain 30-40k in Gold, and experience for all units involved.
Chance of Success: 70/30/10%, Takes One year.
Uses Intrigue instead of Martial for commander bonus roll.
Requires one Company.


[] Fight, Build, Fight: The lords of the cities of Khypris, Masserschloss, Vardanos, Akendorf and Myrmidens have come to us with hat and coin in hand to beg for our help in fortifying their lands in case of a vampire invasion. They have heard rumors and seen with their own eyes not only how quickly we have raised our settlement but how high quality all our infrastructure is. Our clients desire us to do two things, defend the land from any raiding parties sent by the ersatz Tilean Empire and to rebuild and remake their cities in our image.
Medium Difficulty Mercenary Mission.
Gain 30-40k in Gold, and experience for all units involved.
Chance of Success: 70/30/10%, Takes One year.
Uses Stewardship instead of Martial for commander bonus roll.
Requires one Company.

---

After my decision about where the clan's soldiers of fortune would travel to was made, I turned to Prema. "Cousin, how do the clan's esteemed spies, scouts and chemists feel they can best contribute this year? Tell me how to best use the blades you hold."

The clan's spy mistress steepled her fingers, leaned back in her seat then took a moment to organize her thoughts before speaking.

"The beastmen are starting to rouse. The local cult we've acquainted ourselves with" she took a moment to nod towards Akeem, "has made us aware that they gather their strength for years before finally surging from the forest in a bloody tide." She then placed her hands flat on the table before leaning over it to look into my eyes.

"Presently I think, but I am unsure, that we have one, maybe two years before they start becoming a real problem. So we can leave them to stew for now but we cannot put it off for long. In the meantime if we do not attack them we can focus on preparing our forces to fight the vampire menace and preparing for chemical mass production." After a moment she leans back into her chair.

"But do not let them build strength for too long Cousin. These people are vile and their crimes are brutality for the sake of brutality. Eating the flesh of humans, the defilement of captives and many more crimes done by them for fun. I consider them as vile a threat as the Jashin cults back in our world and they should be treated as such." Scorn, disgust and hint of fear flash in her eyes in a quick second, she worries what the beastmen will do when they walk out from their forests.

I took a sip of my coffee and then thought very carefully about what I wanted her department to do.

Intrigue: 2 Actions Available.

[] Proactive Solutions: From what I've been told it's only a matter of time before these "Beast-Men" as the locals call them gather themselves and start terrorizing the areas around the forests and mountains and maybe eventually reaching the compound. We will nip this problem in the bud right now. Instruct Prema to have her department initiate a poisoning campaign that will see the leaders of these tribes put to rest eternally through the arsenals of toxins she has crafted.
Send out Prema's Shinobi Company compo and herself to spend the year killing every Beastman champion, war lord, shaman and other high value targets for a year either stopping them from rampaging entirely or making them easy pickings for your forces at a later date.
Cost: 1'500 Gold. Takes One year. +20 to Purge The Beasts Action.
Easy Difficulty Mercenary Mission exp gain.
Chance of Success: 90/70/50%

[] Investigate Poison Regents: Prema advises that while her current repertoire is good for now she notes that it was all made to attack the human physiology and in this world we are not dealing solely with humans now as such she requests a piece of the budget and shinobi be set aside to seek out good components for more effective poisons.
Gain more poison options for more shinobi, open more poisoning options, boost success chances of other poisoning options.
Cost: 100 Gold, Takes One year.
Chance of Success: 90%

[] Guerilla Warfare training: Prema has plans to begin reinforcing and expanding what our shinobi know about fighting from the shadows giving them all more of an edge on the battlefield. Raise the stealth of all shinobi below Jounin by +3. Provides +3 to any intrigue based mercenary missions.
Cost: 1000 Gold, Takes One year.

[] Get your ass back in there!: The Genin could not force themselves to go deeper into the forest and mountains out of fear but Chunin are made of sterner stuff so send five of them in to look into how big the Beastmen tribes are.
Receive knowledge of how far along the beastmen build up is.
Chance of Success: 70%, Takes One year.

[] Alchemical Stockpile: The vampires are a varied lot of creatures, some have weaknesses towards sunlight, others towards running water or even a specific helplessness towards the metals crafted by the Dawi and elves. But one thing all the leeches share is deep seated fear and weakness towards fire. Prema will conscript every single chemist in the clan into providing the shinobi forces sent to fight the vampires this year a massive arsenal of incendiary weapons at their disposal to use against them.
Provide +10 to any and all mercenary missions involving vampires for the turn this is taken.
Cost: 15K Gold, Takes One year.

[] Chemical Warfare Department: With a proper cadre of chemists shinobi and civilians alike trained to Prema's rigorous standards it is time to organize some of them under a single unified command to focus solely on developing the clan's arsenal streamlining the requisition process.
Create the chemical warfare department as a seller on the special equipment list, you will be able to buy and distribute poisons with no actions needed.
Cost: 35K Gold, Takes Two years.

---

With Prema's orders sorted out I looked towards Miyoharu's beaming smile.

"It is a great year for the clan's diplomatic corps cousin!" To punctuate her words she pulled out a bottle of Asur wine Kreges had gifted her to pour into her empty coffee cup.

"We have many enemies, yes, but also a bounty of allies and comrades waiting eagerly for us to reach out to them!" She took a heart drink of the win before reclining and her chair.

"There's also the fact that those handsome men we made acquaintance with during our travels are quite eager to see us again." A lurid smile cut across her lips as she spoke.

This invited groans of annoyance and displeasure from the other Jounin barring me.

"Yabol this, Yabol that. You'd swear the sun rises according to his whims the way you speak of him." Ahim muttered.

"Gag me with a spoon, Yuck! all this mushy business has no place at our council meeting!" Prema complained.

"Cousins I would appreciate it if you would not constantly retell in public what you did with your uh… male friends so loudly to my subordinates, they are becoming stir crazy with need to meet their people." Akeem chastised.

"I concur, I had to sanction several genin for planning a road trip to, and I quote 'Confirm the stories' without first applying for leave." Raizou said.

"Hmph, all of you are just jealous you haven't found someone to really have fun with… well except you Prema, I know you're not interested in that stuff." Miyoharu spoke with a pout as she drank her wine.

I inclined my head so my headdress covered my reddening face, giving me both a moment to think and hide my embarrassment. Miyoharu does speak the truth, the clan has either a clean slate or the seeds of a positively inclined relationship with all the civilized powers in the region, whether we can build up those relations is not in question but rather who should be prioritized now.

Diplomacy: 2 Actions Available.

[] International Diplomacy; The West: Now for something more exciting Miyoharu says that to the west instead of poor pauper warlords there's actually no bullshit richy-rich warlords with more gold than brains, lots of exotic foods, spices, technologies and people. With the most exotic of them all being a group of people with very long sharp ears, great magical knowledge and more importantly lots and lots of money oh and handsome men or something.
Establish diplomatic ties to the Estalian Kingdoms, Brettonia and The Asrai. Open up more diplomatic options westward. Open up the world events section in this region, trade deals open.
Cost: 2000 Gold, Takes One year.
Chance of Success: 80/40/10%

[] Dealing with Barak-Varr: These Dawi as they call themselves, have traditions regarding hair they like to see observed amongst themselves, and believe everyone else should too, where the men keep their beards uncut while the women never cut their hair and keep them in long ornate plaits, this is the reason why Miyoharu was fixing her hair extensions. Either way it is in the clan's interest to make contact with their dual purpose fortress city and harbor of Barak Varr which controls the biggest sea based trading node in your area.
Gain open relations with Barak Varr, trade deals open, receive Empire Rumor Mill.
Cost: 200 Gold, Takes One year.
Chance of Success: 60/40%

[] Record the Gold Style: Miyoharu is without a doubt one of the greatest geniuses the clan has produced, alongside myself of course, in decades creating a whole new style of Jutsu with our Kekkei Genkai. Unfortunately she hasn't had the time to take notes on it or teach it to anyone else, no more, have her sit down and record her knowledge so that it is not lost to us.
Miyoharu records and teaches gold style so there is no chance of it being lost and can be picked up by the Tokubetsu Jounin.
Cost: Miyoharu will be unavailable for combat deployment for one year.
Chance of Success: 70%, takes one year.

[] Record and teach her medical secrets: Miyoharu has tread where none have dared to before in the clan by dissecting the dead while many of the more pious members of the clan would decry this I couldn't give less of a shit. What she has learned is too valuable, too important to discard in the name of faith and even Akeem sees the wisdom in this. As such Miyoharu will record and train people in her medical secrets for proliferation and further study. Miyoharu's medical knowledge isn't lost and can begin studying actual medical ninjutsu.
Cost: Miyoharu will be unavailable for combat deployment for one year.
Chance of Success: 50%, takes two years.

[] Offer medical services: Miyoharu proposes that she sell her services as a surgeon and a doctor while traveling. While Miyoharu has not mastered "True" medical Ninjutsu that allows one to reattach limbs and repair organs with applications of yang chakra she can use her Jiton chakra as an internal scanner and probe, use the diluted forms of the clan's poisons for anesthesia and the gold used by her can be cleaned and sterilized so she can control them remotely to perform extremely difficult and sensitive internal procedures that no one in the clan, much less this world can replicate. Miyoharu will travel far and near looking for powerful clients in need of her services and using it both as a chance to make a nice profit and build relations.
Gain 10k-100k Gold and ???
Cost: Miyoharu will be unavailable for combat deployment for one year.
Chance of Success: 100%

[] Sheathed Swords and Open Hands: In Araby Toyohisa Shimazu signaled that he was open to building more open relations between both our clans, his close friend Aoi Yamanaka has also strongly hinted at being eager to meet Miyoharu again as part of these negotiations, as friends of course.
[] Encourage Miyoharu to go see Aoi.
[] Do not encourage Miyoharu to go see Aoi.
Open Shimazu Market; Extremely expensive chakra steel purchasing options become available.
Gain: Open relations with Shimazu, trade deals open, receive Shimazu/Southlands Rumor Mill.
Cost: 1000 Gold, Takes One year.
Chance of Success: 70/50/20%

[] The Black Cloaked Church and Clan of Hounds: The supreme uniting power of the Free Tilean States is without a doubt the church of Morr. With a clenched iron fist, a will of steel and eyes burning with the blackest of hatred they call their flock to wage war alongside them against the walking dead. But they do not march alone. Following side by side with them is their closest partner the Hatake Clan who pursue their ally's war with the same fanaticism. To entreat and meet with one is to meet the other by default and both factions have offered a seat at the table.
Cost: 1000 Gold, Takes One year.
Chance of Success: 70/50/20%
Open Hatake Market; Rare Beasts and Hunting Contracts become available.
Gain: open relations with Tilea and the Hatake, trade deals open, receive Tilea/Hatake Rumor Mill.

[] Sultanate Negotiations: Jovial Prince Aden has been sending missives sharing the daily goings and adventures he has as a prince, but along with stories he also constantly sent invitations to his palace for the sake of formalizing the friendly relations between our groups, he is quite eager to make friends with more chakra cultivators it seems. He may also just enjoy hanging out with us. Probably both.
Gain: open relations with Araby, trade deals open, receive Araby Rumor Mill.
Cost: 1000 Gold, Takes One year.
Chance of Success: 70/50/20%

[] Having Fun with Cute Boys: Oh my goodness Yabol sent me a personal letter~♥️ He wants to invite me to see the greatest city in Ulthuan! I bet there's lots of nice things he wants to show me and do to me. He also says Kreges has sent Miyoharu her own personal invitation for her to come along? My my what is a girl to do? Decisions, decisions.
[] Encourage Miyoharu to go see Kreges.
[] Do not encourage Miyoharu to go see Kreges.
Gain: open relations with Ulthuan, trade deals open, receive Asur Rumor Mill.
Cost: 1000 Gold, Takes One year.
Chance of Success: 70/50/20%

---

With my decision made about who we reach our hand out to this year I turn my mind towards the matter of the clan's infrastructure and institutions.

Stewardship: 2 Actions Available.

[] Coffee Farms: Coffee is the lifeblood of the clan, some would say literally as there are some of us that consume more of it than water. As such it is very important we construct greenhouses that emulate the naturally very hard to find conditions which the coffee seed requires to grow, it will be an expensive multi-year endeavor as the right type of soil must be found, the specific type of glass the houses require would need to be made by the glassblowers guild, and a watering system that would create the perfect humidity must be constructed from scratch.
Adds Coffee to trade resources, +20 to Civilian Food Production, adds an extra +500 Gold to every trade deal, unlocks learning options.
Cost: 3000 Gold. Takes one year.

[] Stone and Steel Fortress Network: Those same villages I would build roads to not only make good vassals and trade partners but be the first stones upon which waves of invaders will break themselves, I will turn them into fortress towns with large walls, local artillery such as catapults and ballista to protect them, weapon depots of crossbows and armor and then provide them with a garrison shinobi to patrol the area and act as messengers.
In case of an invasion of the border princes the Villages surrounding the compound will not be automatically destroyed and will have the ability to hold out against low tier threats for one year, massive casualties will be levied against any invader or outright repel them.
Cost: 5000 Gold. Takes one turn.

[] Standardize Chakra Steel Apprenticeship: I only have two somewhat competent Tokubetsu Jounin trained in the arts of chakra steel forging from our scrolls. I would rather not start from scratch if they were to die so they will be instructed to pick civilians and ninjas to instruct in their arts, I will give them the proper facilities for their crafts and I will pay for scribes to record the lessons.
Gain more chakra steel capable smiths (Beginner level) who will provide their Tokubetsu (Intermediate level) Instructors with the base chakra steel they need to make proper armor and weapons reducing the costs of them crafting equipment by 25%, providing experience for the smiths, and opening more options.
Cost: 5'000 Gold.
Chance of Success: 100%, takes two turns.

[] Shinobi Recruitment Streamlining: The current system for training shinobi for the clan is inefficient and antiquated; mainly relying upon families training their relatives or the different companies sponsoring prospective recruits and personnel themselves. The main issue with this is that hundreds of prospective recruits don't have shinobi relatives and as such are overlooked. A centralized training system with free publicly available resources will correct this issue.
Increase passive Genin recruitment roll every year by 20 + 2d10.
Cost 50K Gold.
Chance of Success: 50%, takes three turns.

[] Sabaku-Rhya Whiskey Distillery Company: Akeem has brought forward a plan to form a joint brewing company with Giana's people and after sampling some of their bourbon I think it's a brilliant idea! We will set up space for the breweries, provide the materials and help look for the talent needed to staff these facilities, in exchange we will be provided with a premium product to sell to our new trade partners.
Gain High Quality Alcohol trade resources. Provides +1000 Gold to every trade deal partner
Cost 5K Gold.
Chance of Success: 100%, takes one turn.

[] Sabaku State Construction Company: Our mastery of Jiton and Doton have given us absolute dominance over a very lucrative niche as the fastest high quality builders ever seen in this world, we must take advantage of this fact. A state company composed mainly of retired Shinobi and chakra cultivating civilians will be formed to provide our allies and partners with our services as engineers and builders, for a fee of course.
Open Civil Engineering Contracts, These are stewardship actions that will allow you to send the company out to any ally to build their projects of choice. These contracts will average between 100-150K in gold revenue and take two to three turns to complete and will massively boost relations with the hiring faction.
Cost 50k Gold.
Chance of Success: 70%, takes three turns.

[] Genin Puppet User Academy: The current crop of genin are often very unfamiliar with how to best use our clans preferred weapon's platform and as such are not maximizing the benefits that can be gained from their use, a school staffed by the greatest puppet masters in the clan whether they be active or retired will work diligently to teach all our genin the tips and tricks of their trade.
All Genin will passively receive 25xp per turn up until they reach the Experienced Rank at which point they will be unaffected by it.
Cost 80k Gold.
Chance of Success: 80%, takes three turns.

[] Civilian Accounting Academy: Almost every member of the clan is some type of craftsman or engineer or merchants, which means that almost none of them are available as bookkeepers or accountants for those skilled laborers within the clan itself. Thankfully we have a much larger and eager labor pool now available to us in the form of our civilian vassals; they will be eager to be taught arithmetic, writing and reading for the sake of accepting well paying jobs within the compound as assistants to our bloodline, such closeness may also encourage… other things.
Gain an extra 50 Gold for every 100 Civilians. Increase population growth by 0.2%
Cost 50k Gold.
Chance of Success: 100%, takes one turn.

[] Establish the Bureaucracy: Taxation is the lifeblood of all states. For any organization larger than a small hamlet to function cleanly and efficiently there must be an army of faceless ministers, functionaries and scribes who ensure its continued existence, the clan is no different.
Stewardship actions will cost 20% less gold and take one turn less.
Cost 50K Gold.
Chance of Success: 100%, takes three turns.

---

After writing down my plans for the department I turned to the blank wall of stone that was Raizou.

"There is no easy way to say it but many of my department's efforts are closely tied to whoever Miyoharu's are focused on." He gave a nod of acknowledgment to the woman in question as he stood and paced around the room.

"As it stands much of the research we wish to conduct has already been done by the people in this world, it would be the height of foolishness to recreate everything from first principles when we have societies rich with artisans and engineers with whom we could corroborate." He then leaned on the table right beside me as he placed a pistol right besides my hand.

It was a beautifully crafted thing made of gleaming steel fused with wonderfully polished oak. I picked it up and inspected it, noticing that on the bottom of the grip was engraved with a Dawi rune, a craftsman's signature if there ever was one.

"I thought you didn't like guns, cousin~." Ahim broke my concentration by speaking up in a sing-song tone.

"Hmph! I find them to be simplistic and inelegant compared to the wonders of our clan's puppets but I am no fool, the craftsmanship of these weapons cannot be denied, nor can their utility." He spoke those last words with a big heaving sigh as he gave Ahim a small intellectual victory.

"Score one for me woohoo! Give it here!" To celebrate he fist pumped and high fived Prema and Akem. Getting a concession out of Raizou was like breaking in a stubborn camel.

"In any case while I am inclined towards our shor-" Akem started to furiously shake his head, a look of borderline terror on his face. "I mean compact friends, any of the big groups surrounding us will provide us with a great bounty of material for our own research." He sat back down and grabbed his quill and parchment eager to begin his yearly scientific endeavors.

Learning: 2 Actions Available.

[] Study Chakra Steel: We have only begun to decipher the secrets of chakra forging, we must keep going if we are to recreate the wonders of the samurai clans. It is good to see that Raizou is of the same mind and wants to gather together the current smiths. We do have to investigate the materials they create to get a deeper understanding of them for future applications.
Gain a better understanding of chakra forging, open up more of the tech tree for research.
Cost: 300 Gold. Takes one turn.
Chance of Success: 80%

[] Assess local medicines: Raizou dislikes the idea of paying to listen to the tall tales of the local medicine men and women to find real nuggets of valuable medical knowledge in between all the snake-oils and placebos they offer but he feels it would be worth it.
Learn of remedies and cures for local illnesses and poisons that might affect your civilians and local forces.
Cost: 200 Gold. Takes one turn.
Chance of Success: 70%

[] Study Gunpowder: Gunpowder, that curious substance that you were introduced to shortly after coming to this world. It smells awful, it is toxic, and it is a bit difficult to make. But it would be idiotic to reject learning more about this chemical substance simply because the current methods of use don't suit us.
Gain a better understanding of gunpowder itself as a chemical compound, open up more of the tech tree for research such as explosives and combat engineers.
Cost: 400 Gold. Takes one turn.
Chance of Success: 80%

[] Study Gunsmithing: Guns are garbage for your ninja. They are loud, slow to load and your shinobi can match the speed of the projectiles they fire with kunai and muscle power. But they are still useful for your civilians and for any allies or vassals we may acquire here as they are a mundane way of giving a lot of firepower to non-chakra cultivating humans. Not to mention the metallurgical techniques used in the construction of such weapons could be applied to our own arms manufacturing.
More options for puppet construction and artillery opens up, gun sales may be possible in the future.
Cost: 300 Gold. Takes one turn.
Chance of Success: 80%

[] Puppet Chemical Weapon Integration: With a proper chemical warfare department established the fruits of their labors are now standardized and can be easily distributed to be added to the arsenals of any puppet users regardless of any other factors.
All Puppet ranged attacks will impose the Oiled Status on foes they attack or use a specific poison of the user's choice and include an incendiary weapon on all present and future puppet designs.
Cost: 10K Gold. Takes one turn.
Chance of Success: 50%

---

Once Raizou received his mission for the year I nodded towards Akem. The normally gregarious priest was now quiet and blushing as he collected himself to speak.

"I'd like to apologize for my earlier outburst, it was unbecoming of how someone of my rank should carry themselves." He bowed his head then.

I waved him off, it wasn't that big of an issue, the rest of the council agreed as they nodded or told him he didn't have to apologize, still blushing he raised his head and collected himself. Now he sits with his spine ramrod straight with his hands clasped in front of him, a cool look of focus on his face, the image of a perfectly in control shinobi.

"We arrived to this world with little knowledge and little options, we still have little of the former but much more of the latter than we ever thought possible." He rolled a scroll my way which I picked up and started reading as I listened to him speak.

"This new world has many new, esoteric dangers the likes of which we never had to deal with in our old world. On that parchment is a collection of the ones I have discovered and on this one is a list of possible countermeasures we can develop." He rolled a second scroll that I picked up as soon as I was done reading the first one.

"I advise that we must not just concern ourselves with the spiritual health of the clan but that of our subjects. I have reached out to our new friends-""You mean Giana's fine squadron of studs and beauti- ow!" Akim interrupted before he was cut off by Raizou swatting him in the back of the head with one of his rolled up schematics.

"Mhm. Yes, as I was saying Priestess Giana, her husband and subordinates are eager to help tend to the spiritual needs of our vassals, I suggest focusing on cooperating with them to find a foothold while we also reach out to our own gods for guidance, I feel this a dialogue between our faiths would provide an excellent dialogue that we would both benefit from." He spoke with authority making his case clear and offering options.

It was obvious that apart from killing vampires he wanted to expand our pantheon's influence while also making friends with his fellow theologists.

But what did I feel the clan needed him to do the most? Moreover, what should I focus on doing personally this year?

Piety: 2 Actions Available.

[] Build Shrines: The people of this land have righteous faiths according to Akeem, a heartening thing really to know that the evil cults like Jashinism aren't the norm in this region as such there is a proposal to start building shrines to our own pantheon along the routes and towns our shinobi are patrolling.
Gain shrines in friendly areas, gain converts from the local civilians, more piety options.
Cost: 100 Gold.
Chance of Success: 100%

[] Train Kittens: We do not have the Cat contract, but we do have regular cats who are still very useful for sniffing out vermin and evil, blessed be the Gods for granting us such a holy animal as our companions. Akeem would like them trained to very high standards to be guards to temples and scouts for other areas.
Gain more intrigue actions. Give Shinobi +3 Recon. Gain a bonus to internal security rolls.
Cost: 1'000 Gold.
Chance of Success: 100%

[] Contemplate the Gods: Akeem confirms that although we have moved from one world to another we are still connected to our gods, and while we are forever grateful for such a thing how is that possible is a thing that's kept him up at night and he'd like time to investigate it through meditation.
Gain:?????
Cost: Akeem is unavailable for a year.
Chance of Success: 50%

[] Theological Dialogue: There are many gods in this land and Akeem would like to know more about them so he is proposing sending out our priest and priestesses to find temples to the local gods and ask about their own gods so we can gain a better understanding of them and not offend them.
Gain more Piety options regarding the local gods to understand them and their people, help deal with internal friction in your territory between clan members and locals.
Cost: 200 Gold.
Chance of Success: 90/70/50%

[] To Still Winds: The powersource of all the sorcery within this world is a group of ethereal energies collectively referred to as the Winds of Magic, it is this energy that courses through the land, the people and the air. It is also toxic to chakra cultivators. Whether it manifests as the abilities manifested by Oliver, the runic magic used by the Dawi or the holy magic used by Giana's group it is all harmful to us. But does the reverse apply? Can chakra negatively affect the winds?
Akeem will investigate ways to counter the local world's magic.
Cost: 2000 Gold.
Chance of Success: 60/30/10%

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Personal: 2 Actions

[] Overwork yourself: There is too much work to get done! I will put in the hours to see them finished, this I swear!
Cost: 1 Personal Action.
Gain one extra action to use in any category of your choosing.

[] Travel: The world is vast and I need to understand it. I will requisition one of our chakra camels and go out to explore the world and see it with my own eyes.
Gain:?????
Chance of Success: 100%

[] Sell your services personally: I presently do not have a Ninja company to lead personally but I am a Jounin, a master Shinobi with the power to make battlefields tremble and armies flee in fear at just the idea of hearing my name spoken. I will sell my services as a one woman army and bring back my earnings to the clan.
Chance of Success: 100%

[] Help in preparing the Bazaar: The Bazaar is one of the most important events for the clan and for my family, I will not have anything or anyone dare interrupt it.
Gain +20 to the Bazaar roll this turn.
Cost: 300 Gold.

[] Courting the Emerald Eyed Merchant Part 1: I keep thinking about Yabol; shy, adorable and so wonderful in how he treats me. I want to see him again, I need to claim him again, I will go to him.
Advance Kannika's relationship one more level.
Cost 0, takes one turn.

[X] Retrieve the Golden Serpent: The Dawi of Karak Varr have come to the clam compound demanding the services of Clan Leader Kannika, and only her, for a mission of the utmost importance. The Runelord of the Hold has himself personally come to make the request and his authority is absolute, he will not take any answer but yes.
Chance of Success: 100/50%
This is a free action it does not count as one of the two actions you pick.

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Special Equipment List:

Things you can request and commission from your chakra steel blacksmiths, puppet artisans and engineers.

[] Make One Set of Intermediate level Chakra Steel Armor:

• [] Who's it for?

Create a breastplate and a rough kabuto helmet of the most advanced chakra steel your blacksmiths can make, which isn't much but still, expensive but will provide the best protection the clan can make. Chakra Steel Armor Provides: 100 Armor and full resistance against the lowest levels of warp radiation and 50% against medium levels of warp radiation.
Cost: 2000 Gold. Takes one turn.

[] Make One Set of Intermediate level Chakra Steel Melee Weapons:

• [] Who's it for?

Make an intermediate level chakra steel weapon for one of your Jounin to use that will be custom made just for them.
Intermediate Chakra Steel Melee weapons provide +50 Melee Damage, +20 Melee AP Damage and no special effects.
Cost: 2000 Gold. Takes one turn.

[] Personal Puppet:

• [] Who's it for?

A high level combat puppet will be custom made for one of your Jounin, specifications for any desired features or specialties can be added.
Cost: 5000 Gold. Takes one turn.

[] Hire Longshanks:

• [] How Many?
  • [] Assign them to which company?

11 Longshanks of Taal and Alexis are available for deployment on martial and intrigue missions that involve the woods and/or fighting beastmen for an extra 500 Gold each barring Alexis who is 1000 Gold. Each is a Chunin level warrior barring Alexis who is Tokubetsu Jounin level. Each adds +2 to the rolls of any mission they are added to while Alexis provides 4.

[] Hire Priestesses of Rhya:
[] How Many?

• [] Assign them to which company or to focus on population growth?

11 Priestesses of Rhya and Head Priestess Giana are available for deployment on martial and intrigue missions involving the woods and/or fighting Slaanesh for 500 Gold each barring Giana who costs 1000 Gold. Each priestess hired provides a 2% bonus to success. Giana provides a 4% bonus.

Priestesses are also midwives and can be donated to so they can focus on providing these services for a year. Each priestess can be hired for a year for 1'500 gold and they provide a 0.1% boost in population growth.

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