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The Path Unending (A Cultivation Quest)

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HousePet said:
Zhuan Kun normally guards Clerk Ni.
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And considering how Clerk Ni currently has it out for Zhuan Kun, he won't want Zhun Kun on guard duty.

Also:
Vesvius said:
Clerk Ni nods once to himself. "We cannot risk any potential disciples going untested," he states. "A change to your standard methods is needed. Disciple Mei, your new task is to patrol the whole of Mohai and ensure that every soul within the parameters sits before the testing treasure."
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Vesvius said:
"Disciple Zhuan," he continues. "You will handle administration and orientation. Disciple Kong, you will be my principal guard. Are there any questions?"
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A few updates ago, Ni made a big thing about switching our roles. Zhi's usual role is administration. Kun's usual role is rounding up stragglers. And Daiyu is normally guarding Clerk Ni. Apologies if I'm being rude, I just think that considering the evidence and how we rebuffed Ni's attempts to swap our roles last time, Daiyu will be guarding the clerk as usual.
 
googlyeyesultra said:
It's definitely not this exactly, but I'm getting False Hydra vibes, to be honest.

The "no need for names" thing is worth noting, as is the fact that nearby recordkeepers (Zhuan) don't have the village recorded but a far away one (imperial) does.
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See if anything I feel like it's the opposite of a False Hydra? With False Hydras you see it and forget. These people are seeing us and refusing to react.

I do think it's a little odd the group don't mention the merchant's cart to the village headman, though. Almost like they forgot about it.
 
Suspicious stuff:
  • Predators(?) at night, FLEE
  • Village is on Imperial maps but not Zhaun (also notably Ni only discovered it as we approached, despite presumably planning this route using Imperial maps)
  • Village name changes
  • Missing merchant (notably no tracks leaving the cart)
    • Wasn't mentioned to village headman
  • Weird sense of good mood/positivity ("It's a perfect day"), Ni unusually chipper and polite to Kun
  • Chui Dao is quiet (usually indicates a powerful kukui is nearby)
  • Villagers noticed us but didn't react
  • Anam seems unusually still/tranquil
 
[X] Zhi will roam the outskirts of the village, insuring there are none hiding from the Examination.

Ves, you keep misspelling words in the vote options. The word "ensuring" isn't spelled with an i.
 
Vesvius said:
Another map joins the first, this one labeled. "This one has it called Shoalwater," she states, glaring at the map as if it has done her a personal wrong. "Yet this one-" a third map joins the first two. "-dubs it Yin Chang. And this one-" another map is thrown on the pile. "-names it Shulin's Wake! No two maps have the same name for it!"
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Vesvius said:
The elder mulls over her words before shrugging. "Last clerk who came through called it Shoubiao's Wake," he sighs. "That's good enough, I suppose. No real need for names around these parts."
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I missed this due to the similarity of the names, but I suspect this village just gained *another* name.

Also, Shoubiao translates to "wristwatch" or "pocket watch" which sure doesn't feel like a coincidence.
 
[X] Zhi will handle the administration, recording records of those who have passed or failed.

Zhi might learn more from the people than Zhuan will
 
Vesvius said:
Zhuan Kun cocks his head to the side consideringly. "You plan to use your technique to enhance your Sixth Sense?" he muses. "Logical. That technique seems most flexible. I still find myself intrigued by it. If there is any way you could teach it to me or inscribe it on a token, I would be most grateful."
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The cute part is that Zhuan Kun just had a conversation with his Masters about incorporating another unverified technique into his path.

I can just imagine Kun beseeching Master Archer to be allowed to learn his friend's cool technique while also saying it is important for him not to incorporate the Worldstream just yet.
 
[X] Zhi will handle the administration, recording records of those who have passed or failed.

I think any mysteries of this town will have hints in the records
 
[X] Zhi will roam the outskirts of the village, insuring there are none hiding from the Examination.

Whatever is going on, I think the core of it is going to be located somewhere in the village and not coming in our metaphorical front door.

... Also, it would be fun to see Clerk Ni react to Zhuan Kun handling the paperwork in a city that doesn't seem to worship his clan.
 
Koguyra said:
Time Anam might be at play here.
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Yeah, time bubble is my guess. The people who leave have time catch up to them and decay to nothing in an instant. If they mostly know this then it explains why they don't care about their name or the emperor.

I'm guessing this place was left off the local maps intentionally, either because it's a hazard or because there's nothing that can be done about it.

[X] Zhi will roam the outskirts of the village, insuring there are none hiding from the Examination.
 
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    • Scheduled vote count started by Vesvius on Jan 22, 2025 at 7:42 PM, finished with 54 posts and 34 votes.
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