I'm going to say it is too late but also point out that it would have been a lot better as a question to Aspa (someone who succussed in getting to the outer sect) rather than just trying to find relevant books.
The Iron Oath (An Oath/Contract Based Cultivation Quest).
- Thread starter uri
- Start date
- Original
CedeTheBees
Probably high right now
- Location
- Somewhere
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Double dang.
Oh well. The school year just started. Rookie mistakes are expected.
Oh well. The school year just started. Rookie mistakes are expected.
9. In search of knowledge.
"Someone you've ought to know?" Aspa hummed as she set another warm stone upon aurora bare back "well the direct disciples of the elders probably fall into that category by default but even with your connections you are below their notice for the time being".
Aurora relaxed as Aspa continued the treatment in silence, deep in thought.
"Honestly I wouldn't worry about it, the initiates and the sect proper doesn't see much interactions until you fully passed and with you entering your family faction, you'll likely see a lot of older disciples come to you in search of forming a connection"
"I would focus on forming connections with your fellow initiates -especially your noble peers- your time might be short but the friendships and rivalries formed here would last a lifetime.
Aurora may not have been as big on libraries as Gallus was but she was educated enough to know how to search through one.
A hard mind (stewardship) check (it's not the actual skill but its close enough it only gives you a difficulty increase).
Aurora 10 dice S>6 R2.
[1, 8, 9, 6, 4, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9]= 7s + [3, 8]= 8s.
Octaiva (using the investigations kill) 9 dice S>6 R4.
[6, 8, 6, 9, 6, 9, 7, 3, 1]=4s + [8, 9, 6, 7]!= 7s.
Outcome: major success.
The ceremony called the voice of the ancestors is a right of passage among the northern tribes, all of their youths participate in the hope for a spirit quest form their ancestors to bring them guidance but while all northerners will attempt the ceremony at least once not all are granted the right to preform it.
To be granted the right to perform the ceremony, one must delve into one of the large burials borrows where the ancestors rest and earn their favor, a most perilous course of action.
It is the recommendation of this author that If the humble reader of this work would wish to undergo such a ritual that he should attempt to receive an invitation to one already prepared rather than attempt to gain the right to the ceremony as of the time of this although putting ink to paper no foreigner has ever succeeded in crying the favor of the Northen ancestors.
-One thousand and one rituals, a compendium of rituals utilized throughout the empire by Antonios Anthiades
The northerners' ancient burial mounds play an important part in their culture and their power.
Here the tribes gather to exchange gifts and settle disputes, here they work their rituals and ceremonies. Here they bury their honored dead and welcome new members of their family under the gaze of their ancestors.
The burial mounds represent a crucial piece of the northern tribe's culture and ancestral worship. Delving deep into the mound for the favor of the ancestors is the linchpin of many of their rituals and ceremony's.
A common example would be the voice of the ancestor's ceremony, which require the ancestor's approval to be carried out, as they whisk the performer and worthy attendants into a soulscape where the ancestors can act freely to test and challenge the aspirants.
-Expert from, on the nature of northern culture. By Sapfo Lilloglou
Different form the lush plains of the empire the northern tribes' homes is cold an inhospitable, where the empire host more than seven million mortals under its aegis if the northern tribes have half a million between themselves it would be a good millennium.
Consequently, where the empire basses its rituals on the power of the living utilizing grand formations and festivals to channel the power of seven million souls, a specific example could be seen with the ceremony of the rising sun a festival celebrated throughout the empire and its ceremonies precisely designed to draw the gathered power to charge the sunlit towers protecting the capital, the tribes gather strength form their dead.
Their ancient burial grounds are no mere graves, they bound and tether the souls of their ancestors to the material plane to allow their ritual to draw power from their ancestors.
-Expert from, the effect of material conditions on the evolution of rituals, By Nikos Rodinakis
And find something she did, form the many, many books she and Octavia gathered Aurora managed to piece together an understanding of what the voice of the ancestor ceremony was all about.
When preformed, her soul would be drawn from her body and enter a dimension formed within the burial mound the right to perform the ceremony was won in, there one of the ancestors would test and challenge her.
The ceremony would be complete when she has succeeded in two of four tests, named fang, crown, sight and blood, although more than two may be undertaken in an attempt to garner more favor -and therefore rewards-.
From what Aurora found while the tests are never the same, they do share a theme.
The Fang test is always a fight against some beast, crown is about leadership, sight is riddles and puzzles and blood is personalized to your linage.
It is supposedly a difficult test and Aurora as a foreigner -although the northerns tribes are technically part of the empire, in truth they incredibly insular- would find it harder still.
With this new information in mind is Aurora still intending to undergo the ceremony? (feel free to ask question about it, as I obviously couldn't fit every possible piece of knowledge in).
[] Yes.
[] No.
-[] Pick something else to do.
"Combat, alchemy and enchanting, we call them the three fundamentals, can anyone tell me why?" this were the words Eldar Zerveas uttered the moment the door to the lecture hall closed, before anyone could actually answer the elder question he continued "they are called such as they are the three most encountered situations or used goods, as oath bearers you'll utilize those three skills the most, they would be the foundation upon which all rests".
"Know that this class won't teach any of the above skills but provide an introduction into each of the three subjects, if this has not been your exaptation's and is not what you wish for, you may leave" saying so he waved his hand and the doors burst open, only a few individuals left and when no one in the crowed of disciples has made any move towered leavening the Elder closed the doors again.
"We will start with combat, basic oath combat stands on three legs, three oaths that if you do not possess you may not call yourself a combatant, the three legs are protection, lethally and perception. Find something, kill it and don't get killed in turn, making assumption on your enemy oaths is a deadly mistake" the elder face was grave, staring into the crowed daring anyone to argue "but in this case, when you meet a peer in combat assume they have all three types of oaths".
"Saying this, understand that if you were forced to utilize your oaths you have already lost" a cacophony of mutterings rose at the elder words, so shocking they were to the commoners, Aurora already knew this, her father loved regaling tales of his exploits and he almost never mention using oaths when he wasn't losing or in dire straits.
"Silence" the elder barked and the hall fell in stillness and he returned to his lecture tone "it is an irony that our greatest strength, our oaths are often time the least valuable of our arsenal, the school focus on you foundation, on your skills and techniques for this reason if you can take a hit on your iron skin instead of expanding a limited oath power you've at advantage, if you can force an enemy to use an oath without using on int turn you're at advantage, this fact only becomes more important as your oaths become stronger and you start measuring their recharge in term of years and decades rather then months" he waved his hand and jade slips appeared before all the disciples.
"This is the most basic of techniques, its so common that even the loose trash have it, a body empowering techniques, flushing Horkos throughout your body to enhance it for a single monument, push you Horkos into the jade in front of you to access the technique and start practicing, the first section of this lesson would be training this technique, we will then move on to identifying faulty and low-quality pills and enchantments".
Gain the Body Surge Technique.
For getting the Body surge technique to trained you may pick up a keyword for it (choose 1).
[] Strong- 2x to the technique effect.
[] Lingering- 2x to the duration of the technique.
[] Quiet- the technique is quieter and less likely to be detected by Horkos sensing.
[] Powerful- 3x to the technique effect, 2x to the cost.
[] Non straining- you may stack the technique 2x more.
Aurora relaxed as Aspa continued the treatment in silence, deep in thought.
"Honestly I wouldn't worry about it, the initiates and the sect proper doesn't see much interactions until you fully passed and with you entering your family faction, you'll likely see a lot of older disciples come to you in search of forming a connection"
"I would focus on forming connections with your fellow initiates -especially your noble peers- your time might be short but the friendships and rivalries formed here would last a lifetime.
Aurora may not have been as big on libraries as Gallus was but she was educated enough to know how to search through one.
A hard mind (stewardship) check (it's not the actual skill but its close enough it only gives you a difficulty increase).
Aurora 10 dice S>6 R2.
[1, 8, 9, 6, 4, 8, 8, 9, 9, 9]= 7s + [3, 8]= 8s.
Octaiva (using the investigations kill) 9 dice S>6 R4.
[6, 8, 6, 9, 6, 9, 7, 3, 1]=4s + [8, 9, 6, 7]!= 7s.
Outcome: major success.
The ceremony called the voice of the ancestors is a right of passage among the northern tribes, all of their youths participate in the hope for a spirit quest form their ancestors to bring them guidance but while all northerners will attempt the ceremony at least once not all are granted the right to preform it.
To be granted the right to perform the ceremony, one must delve into one of the large burials borrows where the ancestors rest and earn their favor, a most perilous course of action.
It is the recommendation of this author that If the humble reader of this work would wish to undergo such a ritual that he should attempt to receive an invitation to one already prepared rather than attempt to gain the right to the ceremony as of the time of this although putting ink to paper no foreigner has ever succeeded in crying the favor of the Northen ancestors.
-One thousand and one rituals, a compendium of rituals utilized throughout the empire by Antonios Anthiades
The northerners' ancient burial mounds play an important part in their culture and their power.
Here the tribes gather to exchange gifts and settle disputes, here they work their rituals and ceremonies. Here they bury their honored dead and welcome new members of their family under the gaze of their ancestors.
The burial mounds represent a crucial piece of the northern tribe's culture and ancestral worship. Delving deep into the mound for the favor of the ancestors is the linchpin of many of their rituals and ceremony's.
A common example would be the voice of the ancestor's ceremony, which require the ancestor's approval to be carried out, as they whisk the performer and worthy attendants into a soulscape where the ancestors can act freely to test and challenge the aspirants.
-Expert from, on the nature of northern culture. By Sapfo Lilloglou
Different form the lush plains of the empire the northern tribes' homes is cold an inhospitable, where the empire host more than seven million mortals under its aegis if the northern tribes have half a million between themselves it would be a good millennium.
Consequently, where the empire basses its rituals on the power of the living utilizing grand formations and festivals to channel the power of seven million souls, a specific example could be seen with the ceremony of the rising sun a festival celebrated throughout the empire and its ceremonies precisely designed to draw the gathered power to charge the sunlit towers protecting the capital, the tribes gather strength form their dead.
Their ancient burial grounds are no mere graves, they bound and tether the souls of their ancestors to the material plane to allow their ritual to draw power from their ancestors.
-Expert from, the effect of material conditions on the evolution of rituals, By Nikos Rodinakis
And find something she did, form the many, many books she and Octavia gathered Aurora managed to piece together an understanding of what the voice of the ancestor ceremony was all about.
When preformed, her soul would be drawn from her body and enter a dimension formed within the burial mound the right to perform the ceremony was won in, there one of the ancestors would test and challenge her.
The ceremony would be complete when she has succeeded in two of four tests, named fang, crown, sight and blood, although more than two may be undertaken in an attempt to garner more favor -and therefore rewards-.
From what Aurora found while the tests are never the same, they do share a theme.
The Fang test is always a fight against some beast, crown is about leadership, sight is riddles and puzzles and blood is personalized to your linage.
It is supposedly a difficult test and Aurora as a foreigner -although the northerns tribes are technically part of the empire, in truth they incredibly insular- would find it harder still.
With this new information in mind is Aurora still intending to undergo the ceremony? (feel free to ask question about it, as I obviously couldn't fit every possible piece of knowledge in).
[] Yes.
[] No.
-[] Pick something else to do.
"Combat, alchemy and enchanting, we call them the three fundamentals, can anyone tell me why?" this were the words Eldar Zerveas uttered the moment the door to the lecture hall closed, before anyone could actually answer the elder question he continued "they are called such as they are the three most encountered situations or used goods, as oath bearers you'll utilize those three skills the most, they would be the foundation upon which all rests".
"Know that this class won't teach any of the above skills but provide an introduction into each of the three subjects, if this has not been your exaptation's and is not what you wish for, you may leave" saying so he waved his hand and the doors burst open, only a few individuals left and when no one in the crowed of disciples has made any move towered leavening the Elder closed the doors again.
"We will start with combat, basic oath combat stands on three legs, three oaths that if you do not possess you may not call yourself a combatant, the three legs are protection, lethally and perception. Find something, kill it and don't get killed in turn, making assumption on your enemy oaths is a deadly mistake" the elder face was grave, staring into the crowed daring anyone to argue "but in this case, when you meet a peer in combat assume they have all three types of oaths".
"Saying this, understand that if you were forced to utilize your oaths you have already lost" a cacophony of mutterings rose at the elder words, so shocking they were to the commoners, Aurora already knew this, her father loved regaling tales of his exploits and he almost never mention using oaths when he wasn't losing or in dire straits.
"Silence" the elder barked and the hall fell in stillness and he returned to his lecture tone "it is an irony that our greatest strength, our oaths are often time the least valuable of our arsenal, the school focus on you foundation, on your skills and techniques for this reason if you can take a hit on your iron skin instead of expanding a limited oath power you've at advantage, if you can force an enemy to use an oath without using on int turn you're at advantage, this fact only becomes more important as your oaths become stronger and you start measuring their recharge in term of years and decades rather then months" he waved his hand and jade slips appeared before all the disciples.
"This is the most basic of techniques, its so common that even the loose trash have it, a body empowering techniques, flushing Horkos throughout your body to enhance it for a single monument, push you Horkos into the jade in front of you to access the technique and start practicing, the first section of this lesson would be training this technique, we will then move on to identifying faulty and low-quality pills and enchantments".
Gain the Body Surge Technique.
Body surge
Type: Enchantment.
Mastery: Trained.
Cost: 1 Horkos.
Duration: 1 roll.
Effect: +1 dice to body rolls
Special: may be stacked up to body tier.
Type: Enchantment.
Mastery: Trained.
Cost: 1 Horkos.
Duration: 1 roll.
Effect: +1 dice to body rolls
Special: may be stacked up to body tier.
Techniques have a level of mastery attached to them, that goes like this none, untrained, trained, mastered, perfected.
None means you know of the technique but can't use it, untrained means you can use it as is, trained means you can add a key word for it, mastered means you can add 3 key words for it form a pool of 5 chosen you can decide on case by case and perfected gives you a special talent for it.
Getting a technique up to trained just takes AP (1 for untrained and 2 for trained, to a total of 3 before any teacher bonuses) but getting it to mastered and perfected requires either really good teachers or inspiration which is gain d by using the technique in high stress situations.
None means you know of the technique but can't use it, untrained means you can use it as is, trained means you can add a key word for it, mastered means you can add 3 key words for it form a pool of 5 chosen you can decide on case by case and perfected gives you a special talent for it.
Getting a technique up to trained just takes AP (1 for untrained and 2 for trained, to a total of 3 before any teacher bonuses) but getting it to mastered and perfected requires either really good teachers or inspiration which is gain d by using the technique in high stress situations.
For getting the Body surge technique to trained you may pick up a keyword for it (choose 1).
[] Strong- 2x to the technique effect.
[] Lingering- 2x to the duration of the technique.
[] Quiet- the technique is quieter and less likely to be detected by Horkos sensing.
[] Powerful- 3x to the technique effect, 2x to the cost.
[] Non straining- you may stack the technique 2x more.
[x] Powerful- 3x to the technique effect, 2x to the cost.
bumps the cost up to two and the effect to 3, that really good. Also seeing as we have a great axe the first level at that point would remove the negative we gain from using a big weapon.
Edit: [x] Yes.
bumps the cost up to two and the effect to 3, that really good. Also seeing as we have a great axe the first level at that point would remove the negative we gain from using a big weapon.
Edit: [x] Yes.
Last edited:
- Pronouns
- He/It/Argh!
[X] Yes.
A casual invitation is still an invitation. Can't just not turn up.
Hrm...
[X] Powerful- 3x to the technique effect, 2x to the cost.
Aurora has money. This means that can afford many Meridian enhancing pills. Therefore, she will be able to afford to use more costly techniques.
This technique seems worth advancing.
A casual invitation is still an invitation. Can't just not turn up.
Hrm...
[X] Powerful- 3x to the technique effect, 2x to the cost.
Aurora has money. This means that can afford many Meridian enhancing pills. Therefore, she will be able to afford to use more costly techniques.
This technique seems worth advancing.
- Location
- parker colorado
[X] Yes.
CedeTheBees
Probably high right now
- Location
- Somewhere
- Pronouns
- They/Them
[X] Yes.
[X] Powerful- 3x to the technique effect, 2x to the cost.
[X] Powerful- 3x to the technique effect, 2x to the cost.
- Location
- Italy
makes sense, and hey, we're already doing that!
uh, fairly low numbers. I kinda expected more from a pseudo-xianxia setting.
I think it should be doable.
if the challenge still uses our body dice we can probably win the Fang test, we have decent chances for crown and sight too. No idea about Blood.
I suppose in terms of questions...
as we are outside our body, would we use body stats?
Do we get to bring our equipment?
Did we find any record of foreigners succeeding, one book said NO FOREIGNER ever did... though if we DID then again that would be an accomplishment, maybe even worth some recognition by school or family (or at least the would-be-follower).
How often do people DIE or are seriously wounded in this ritual?
does it mention what kind of supernatural powers work in it (Oaths, Legacies...)
are the challenges always 1 on 1, or are there collective challenges?
You know, I admit I forgot this was about the ritual to get the follower. For some reason I thought we were trying to learn more about the Ceremony with which we joined the school
it seems foolish that anyone would leave. What do they have to lose but a couple hours at most?!
ok, so we need to get these three Oaths (are they generic categories?) fairly soon if we can...
wait, REALLY? THAT LONG?
I suppose our current Oath might count, in theory. We can use it to plan the perfect strategy maybe.
So two dice for us? Could come in handy.
oh, when I saw it on the Iron techniques the previous update I thought "Mastery: None" meant they were techniques without "evolutions". As in "dead ends".
Ok, so we want to "train" the "good" techniques soon, ideally with a teacher to help.
so Strong we could go for 4 dice
Lingering lasts 2 turns
Quiet it won't get noticed
Powerful triple effect (6 dice) but double cost
Non Straining we can stack it twice more.
... I'm interested in "Powerful". We can sort of mitigate the extra cost buy buying more horkos potions. Then again we still don't have much Horkos, only 8, so "Powerful" would have it cost 6 and limit us to a single use for now...
maybe just go for Strong, and Powerful as a follow up Keyword if we can have them stack so we can go for the "one-shot one-kill" strategy?
we could get 12 dice for 6 Horkos if they stack multiplicatively.
I'd agree if we had more Horkos. We're only at 8 right now, so that means we can only use it ONCE at full power.
Better to start with "Strong", and add the Powerful keyword later (if they stack), and maybe Lingering too, though we'll need a good teacher to Master the technique.
...then again, we CAN just go for the single stack, so 3 dice for 2 horkos (instead of normal 2 for 2)... and our Horkos should go up fairly quickly...
eh, ok
[X] Yes.
[X] Powerful- 3x to the technique effect, 2x to the cost.
I find that using lower numbers is both more helpful to me when designing the world and what's going on and for the audience as they aren't overwhelmed by big number for no reason.
No foreigner ever succeeded in wining the right to perform the ritual, but plenty actually attempted it and managed to win.
Yes.
No.
Well, there are quite a few foolish people, there are also those who already knew most of the knowledge for one reason or another and didn't care to stay and relearn things.
You kinda already have one, your oath pushes you mind to extreme levels, which can be used to roll for perception or strategy. Octavia oath also somewhat fall in this category (well it falls in all three but it's a minor effect).
Keep in mind that those are broad categories and there are more than one way to apply them. a protection of can be either something that just gives you an insane amount of armor, negates attacks, makes you invulnerable to very specific attacks, a combination of all three or something else.
Well things are pretty conclusive, so I'm going to close the vote the next update would take a while as I started thew next part of distant stars and I'll likely focus on it until turn 15, I've also decided to post an original work over on RR (check it out) so we'll how writing for that influences my writing speed.
10. Soul Crush.
AN: I don't think it really require a warning but the second part of this update is the first real glimpse to the brutality beyond of the world.
Finding Vasilios was an easy task, the man too noticeable whenever he goes, it didn't take long for Aurora to find him in one of the many training grounds.
The problem wasn't in finding him but in deciding how to approach him.
She had something he wanted, the question is if his personality and self-worth issues would allow him to accept it, she could not make him conclude she looks down on him or that she pities him.
Approaching him would require caution, her words must be deliberately chosen.
Thankfully Aurora had years of political education all for this exact moment -or something like it- she moved forward, Gallus walking exactly two steps behind her, she would have preferred Octavia for this but the girl was still not good enough at the more intricate parts of social manipulation.
Aurora steps were measured and precise, she walked as if the she owned the world, as if at her mere words everything would bend to her will, the perfect picture of a spoiled noble.
Her pray noticed her long before she reached him, which was expected as Aurora hasn't made any effort to hide her presence. She could feel his eyes -and the eyes of the rest of the disciples who occupied this training field- upon her and she ignored it all, continuing to move forward.
Finally, she reached Vasilios Thanides, he was a tall man, at least as tall as Gallus which meant he was at least a head taller the Aurora, yet by the way she looked at him she was the tall one.
Aurora looked up and down his body, noting his metallic skin and the mask over his lower face. She nodded once and proclaimed "you're hired".
"Hired?" he sounded more confused than anything else just as Aurora wished for.
"I'll allow you to make a single request as payment for your services" Aurora continued not giving Vasilios a moment to breath.
"What?"
"Did you not here" Gallus interjected "Lady Aurora, young mistress of the Protus merchant family has allowed you to make a single request of her, know that the Protus family stretches throughout the entire empire and beyond, their wealth unimaginable and their wares overflowing. Kowtow three time for her generosity" a little bit over the top but it served its purpose.
Confused and overwhelmed, Vasilios latched to the one thing he truly wanted it started as a mumble "an elixir of reforged life, can you get an elixir of reforged life?".
Aurora snorted and turned away, her long hair sewing in the wind, the sound of two sets of footsteps following after her bringing a smile to her face.
She'll need to break down Vasilios walls over the next few days and let him see her for who she really was but for now she got him.
She added another member to her retinue.
Vasilios Thanides joined your retinue (I didn't even bother to roll because you couldn't fail), the elixir would take a bit to get here (you'll have an action to spend the weekend with him as he takes the elixir) but after he gets it, he'll be as loyal as you can reasonably get.
Finding hall seventeen was no problem, Gallus already knowing where it was an leading the way.
The hall itself was just a small building with many mattresses over its floor.
By the time Gallus and Aurora entered, Elder Valla was already waiting. Aurora and Gallus joined the disciples already present in a respectable distance from the elder and settled in to wait for everyone to arrive.
Five minutes and several more arrivals later Eldar Valla closed the hall doors and turned to the gathered disciples "good" she nodded her head "all of you arrived".
"I have offered yourself this opportunity in recognition of your strength of will and the power of your oath" Eldar Valla began "preserve and be rewarded, we will gather here every week at the same time, if you do not arrive for whatever reason don't bother showing ever gain".
The tone of the elder voice, her words has started ringing the bells of alarm in Aurora head but it was too late.
Something happened and Aurora felt an incredible pressure pressing down on her, bringing her to her knees and then to the floor, she coughed and blood came out. Around her screams of pain sounded form the rest of the gathered disciples but Aurora didn't register them occupied by trying to not be crushed.
Aurora didn't know how long she fought against the pressure, giving it all to not be crushed her soul cracking under the strain.
She was not aware of her surrounding, her nose was bleeding and her arms have long since given up on.
Until finally the pressure relented and she found herself breathing in relief, finally able to look around, it seemed no one managed to resist the attack, some did better then others, only falling to their knees rather then fully into the ground.
She could see Gallus next to her on the ground, his nose -like hers- bleeding.
Eldar Valla, the one who exposed them to this abuse was nowhere to be seen but her words echoed in Aurora head 'if you do not arrive for whatever reason don't bother showing ever gain'.
Slowly she picked herself off the ground and hobbled her home with Gallus in tow and promptly fell into her comfy bed but even her phoenix pillow could not fully heal the pain of the day.
The next day she didn't feel much better and as she remained in her bed sleeping in, she knew she had a decision to make.
[] Aurora will not return to elder Valla lessons. (lose this opportunity).
[] Aurora will return to elder Valla lessons (gain 1 strain, possibility of more strain, gain an action to attend the lessons, not picking this action would remove it permanently).
Gian 50 xp to will (62/64 to will 4), gain soul defense at novice 1. Gain the wound: torn soul channels (medium)- increase the cost of all techniques and the cost of Horkos cultivation by 1.5x. condition: 3.
In addition, this experience has been practically impactful it is worth 2 point toward getting your second oath (now at 4/10).
Finding Vasilios was an easy task, the man too noticeable whenever he goes, it didn't take long for Aurora to find him in one of the many training grounds.
The problem wasn't in finding him but in deciding how to approach him.
She had something he wanted, the question is if his personality and self-worth issues would allow him to accept it, she could not make him conclude she looks down on him or that she pities him.
Approaching him would require caution, her words must be deliberately chosen.
Thankfully Aurora had years of political education all for this exact moment -or something like it- she moved forward, Gallus walking exactly two steps behind her, she would have preferred Octavia for this but the girl was still not good enough at the more intricate parts of social manipulation.
Aurora steps were measured and precise, she walked as if the she owned the world, as if at her mere words everything would bend to her will, the perfect picture of a spoiled noble.
Her pray noticed her long before she reached him, which was expected as Aurora hasn't made any effort to hide her presence. She could feel his eyes -and the eyes of the rest of the disciples who occupied this training field- upon her and she ignored it all, continuing to move forward.
Finally, she reached Vasilios Thanides, he was a tall man, at least as tall as Gallus which meant he was at least a head taller the Aurora, yet by the way she looked at him she was the tall one.
Aurora looked up and down his body, noting his metallic skin and the mask over his lower face. She nodded once and proclaimed "you're hired".
"Hired?" he sounded more confused than anything else just as Aurora wished for.
"I'll allow you to make a single request as payment for your services" Aurora continued not giving Vasilios a moment to breath.
"What?"
"Did you not here" Gallus interjected "Lady Aurora, young mistress of the Protus merchant family has allowed you to make a single request of her, know that the Protus family stretches throughout the entire empire and beyond, their wealth unimaginable and their wares overflowing. Kowtow three time for her generosity" a little bit over the top but it served its purpose.
Confused and overwhelmed, Vasilios latched to the one thing he truly wanted it started as a mumble "an elixir of reforged life, can you get an elixir of reforged life?".
Aurora snorted and turned away, her long hair sewing in the wind, the sound of two sets of footsteps following after her bringing a smile to her face.
She'll need to break down Vasilios walls over the next few days and let him see her for who she really was but for now she got him.
She added another member to her retinue.
Vasilios Thanides joined your retinue (I didn't even bother to roll because you couldn't fail), the elixir would take a bit to get here (you'll have an action to spend the weekend with him as he takes the elixir) but after he gets it, he'll be as loyal as you can reasonably get.
Finding hall seventeen was no problem, Gallus already knowing where it was an leading the way.
The hall itself was just a small building with many mattresses over its floor.
By the time Gallus and Aurora entered, Elder Valla was already waiting. Aurora and Gallus joined the disciples already present in a respectable distance from the elder and settled in to wait for everyone to arrive.
Five minutes and several more arrivals later Eldar Valla closed the hall doors and turned to the gathered disciples "good" she nodded her head "all of you arrived".
"I have offered yourself this opportunity in recognition of your strength of will and the power of your oath" Eldar Valla began "preserve and be rewarded, we will gather here every week at the same time, if you do not arrive for whatever reason don't bother showing ever gain".
The tone of the elder voice, her words has started ringing the bells of alarm in Aurora head but it was too late.
Something happened and Aurora felt an incredible pressure pressing down on her, bringing her to her knees and then to the floor, she coughed and blood came out. Around her screams of pain sounded form the rest of the gathered disciples but Aurora didn't register them occupied by trying to not be crushed.
Eldar Valla has used "soul crush" with her attributes and some talents she rolled 684 successes, which are distributed between the 36 disciples in attendance, resulting in an attack of 19 successes against them all.
Soul crush is a special type of attack which (as the name implies) attacks the soul itself but the soul is resistant so unless the difference in power is massive it would only stun rather deal damage.
Oaths, representing your soul being drawn closer to the martial plain and harnessing its power add their rank as successes toward resisting this type of attack.
Aurora rolls will (soul defense) to resist her soul being crushed, this is a skill she doesn't have so the roll is 6 dice S>8 0R.
[2, 1, 2, 10!, 1, 6, 10!, 9]= 3s.
Result 8s vs 18s (your will being tier 2 lower it by 1).
Major failure. Wound gained, low XP gain. Gain the skill soul defense at novice 1.
Gallus would also roll will (soul defense) also a skill he doesn't have and so hi roll would be 8 dice S>8 R0.
[10!, 3, 4, 9, 7, 2, 5, 10! 7, 5]= 3s.
Result 7s vs 19s.
Major failure. Wound gained, low XP gain. Gain the skill soul defense at novice 1.
Soul crush is a special type of attack which (as the name implies) attacks the soul itself but the soul is resistant so unless the difference in power is massive it would only stun rather deal damage.
Oaths, representing your soul being drawn closer to the martial plain and harnessing its power add their rank as successes toward resisting this type of attack.
Aurora rolls will (soul defense) to resist her soul being crushed, this is a skill she doesn't have so the roll is 6 dice S>8 0R.
[2, 1, 2, 10!, 1, 6, 10!, 9]= 3s.
Result 8s vs 18s (your will being tier 2 lower it by 1).
Major failure. Wound gained, low XP gain. Gain the skill soul defense at novice 1.
Gallus would also roll will (soul defense) also a skill he doesn't have and so hi roll would be 8 dice S>8 R0.
[10!, 3, 4, 9, 7, 2, 5, 10! 7, 5]= 3s.
Result 7s vs 19s.
Major failure. Wound gained, low XP gain. Gain the skill soul defense at novice 1.
Aurora didn't know how long she fought against the pressure, giving it all to not be crushed her soul cracking under the strain.
She was not aware of her surrounding, her nose was bleeding and her arms have long since given up on.
Until finally the pressure relented and she found herself breathing in relief, finally able to look around, it seemed no one managed to resist the attack, some did better then others, only falling to their knees rather then fully into the ground.
She could see Gallus next to her on the ground, his nose -like hers- bleeding.
Eldar Valla, the one who exposed them to this abuse was nowhere to be seen but her words echoed in Aurora head 'if you do not arrive for whatever reason don't bother showing ever gain'.
Slowly she picked herself off the ground and hobbled her home with Gallus in tow and promptly fell into her comfy bed but even her phoenix pillow could not fully heal the pain of the day.
The next day she didn't feel much better and as she remained in her bed sleeping in, she knew she had a decision to make.
[] Aurora will not return to elder Valla lessons. (lose this opportunity).
[] Aurora will return to elder Valla lessons (gain 1 strain, possibility of more strain, gain an action to attend the lessons, not picking this action would remove it permanently).
Our main cultivation system here, is one based on the soul. sure, its expressed through the usage of oaths but its soul based all the same. That means that going against your soul can have massive repercussions.
This is what strain is, it going against your personality and soul. Strain reduces the oath rank of all of your oaths as well as give a penalty to successes of all rolls.
Lowering strain is a hard and lengthy process so be careful when you pick it up but don't be afraid to do so because picking up strain is also the fastest way to enact personality change on Aurora.
This is what strain is, it going against your personality and soul. Strain reduces the oath rank of all of your oaths as well as give a penalty to successes of all rolls.
Lowering strain is a hard and lengthy process so be careful when you pick it up but don't be afraid to do so because picking up strain is also the fastest way to enact personality change on Aurora.
Gian 50 xp to will (62/64 to will 4), gain soul defense at novice 1. Gain the wound: torn soul channels (medium)- increase the cost of all techniques and the cost of Horkos cultivation by 1.5x. condition: 3.
In addition, this experience has been practically impactful it is worth 2 point toward getting your second oath (now at 4/10).
As you get injured (or by special techniques or events) you may get wounds, lasting consequences beyond your HP just going down. They are separated between 4 ranks, minor, medium, major and deliberating, with each rank the effect of the injury is greater.
Condition is how much healing nis require to downgrade the wound to a lower rank. You naturally heal your attribute tier every weak to all wounds and special potions and treasures may either heal you or increase you natural healing there are also healers around.
Aspa for example will increase your natural regeneration by 1 during your meetings and may be paid to do more.
Condition is how much healing nis require to downgrade the wound to a lower rank. You naturally heal your attribute tier every weak to all wounds and special potions and treasures may either heal you or increase you natural healing there are also healers around.
Aspa for example will increase your natural regeneration by 1 during your meetings and may be paid to do more.
Last edited:
[x] Aurora will return to elder Valla lessons (gain 1 strain, possibility of more strain, gain an action to attend the lessons, not picking this action would remove it permanently).
- Location
- Italy
well, that's definitely an approach she can take, yes
uh. basically killing intent resistance training, sort of.
even worse, next time there will DEFINITELY be fewer people. Which means it will become FAR harder for everyone still coming.
my first thought is that we should ask alchemist girl if she can make some potions for us that help with recovering from this.
so basically we gain strain NOT because of the "damage" itself, but because we'd be going against Aurora's "I'd rather avoid hard work and pain" character traits?
...damn, 50 exp all at once?
for comparison, the physical training (I think 3 APs worth) gave ONLY 30 body exp (and 6 will thanks to our will training artifact), doubled to 60 thanks to the massage and spiritual bath.
[x] Aurora will return to elder Valla lessons (gain 1 strain, possibility of more strain, gain an action to attend the lessons, not picking this action would remove it permanently).
lots of pain, but also a lot of gains. We might want potions to accelerate condition removal though.
Then again we're at body tier 2, so we heal relatively quickly already... but we'll want to be fully healed for the ritual in the weekend.
I'll just quote the whole update and underline/enlarge the typos, writing what I think is the correct form in between "()"
I'd also add some more "," and "." and punctuation in general, but that's more of a personal preference.
I'd also add some more "," and "." and punctuation in general, but that's more of a personal preference.
CedeTheBees
Probably high right now
- Location
- Somewhere
- Pronouns
- They/Them
[X] Aurora will return to elder Valla lessons (gain 1 strain, possibility of more strain, gain an action to attend the lessons, not picking this action would remove it permanently).
Yes, and in the process shift her personality traits into tolerating harder work.
- Pronouns
- He/It/Argh!
Oof. This is going to need a phoenix down mattress and a duvet.
This is a good opportunity to grow, and Aurora should grow fairly quickly, but this injury will take two weeks to recover from. Which means another injury before this one is healed.
We need to hit up Cicero and/or Aspa to boost that recovery.
Might also need another action either in recovery or something that helps train Soul Defence.
This is a good opportunity to grow, and Aurora should grow fairly quickly, but this injury will take two weeks to recover from. Which means another injury before this one is healed.
We need to hit up Cicero and/or Aspa to boost that recovery.
Might also need another action either in recovery or something that helps train Soul Defence.
- Location
- parker colorado
[x] Aurora will return to elder Valla lessons (gain 1 strain, possibility of more strain, gain an action to attend the lessons, not picking this action would remove it permanently).
Well, I'm going to close the vote, it's pretty unanimous.
I must admit to being somewhat surprised by this result, I really thought you wouldn't go for it then again, I participate in Kohona Quest so I don't know why I'm actually that surprised we torture the MC for power as par of the course there.
Anyway, the anything left for this turn is the voice of ancestor's ceremony and that going to be a long one and its likely going to take me awhile to get it out.
I must admit to being somewhat surprised by this result, I really thought you wouldn't go for it then again, I participate in Kohona Quest so I don't know why I'm actually that surprised we torture the MC for power as par of the course there.
Anyway, the anything left for this turn is the voice of ancestor's ceremony and that going to be a long one and its likely going to take me awhile to get it out.