We are cleaning out the corruption of a small alchemy hall, not the retainers, and yet the clan elders are now insisting that we need to show our work and are raising doubts about competency.
Yep, we are totally making the retainers more reliable right now. /s
Second paragraph is just nonsense and seems to be listing reasons why we would be last in line for cultivation resources.
Third paragraph is overlooking that our training actions produce double results. And then contradicts itself by claiming we are specialising by spreading our learning in 6 different directions.
I have no idea how you are seeing 'excel in a side area' as 'get mediocre at everything' in what I'm saying but not what you are saying. but I'm done with the discussion.
Okay, for the last part first, I'd been under the impression that you were jumping in on the "we should be able to do everything" train, especially because many of the arguments you were making seemed to support that. If your position was instead "I would like us to also be a General" then that's a different thing to assert. It's also less fundamentally problematic. Like, I personally would like us to lean into the spirit beast thing at least some. I think that would be cool. I don't think we're really ready to take up a hobby yet, though. It feels like they're more of a nice-to-have, and we need to get good in our primary areas of expertise first.
back to the beginning.
So... we seem to be talking about two different things, using confusing language. Let's differentiate.
- There's people who are formally "retainers", like An Lia. Those are the personal followers of specific family members. An Lia seems... pretty loyal and reliable? I don't really see a reason to think that anyone else's retainers would be otherwise?
- There's more general "people working for the family in large groups". Our alchemy hall is one such group. It was really corrupt when we got there, for a few different reasons, and we are currently cleaning it out and fixing it up. This is the sort of stuff that Sag and Administrator skills are for.
Is there a third, distinct group that you're perceiving that I'm not aware of? Some group that would be important to the proper functioning of the clan, is currently likely to be corrupt and/or not dependable, and can't be fixed with proper application of administrative skill?
For second paragraph... I'm really not sure how you're getting that at all. We're slotting ourselves in to (eventually) serve as the clan's premiere alchemist and sage, and head of the clan's medicine hall structure. The proper level for that role is "Lord". We've finally managed to make Knight, which mean that we can start getting serious about running this one little starter medicine hall that we've been initially assigned. It's a bit of a mess, and no one expects anything of it, which is pretty much perfect for the role. It means that we can try to run it and if we screw up then nothing of real value is lost and if we succeed in fixing the place then that both makes us look good and improvs the readiness of the clan overall. We pretty much have an advancement path laid out ahead of us already, and it involves making this one particular medicine hall a credit to our clan, and getting appropriate rewards for doing so.
Now, will that be enough to get us to Baron? No. No, our Mom is Baron, and our older brother is going to be aiming for Baron (he's the heir) and our older sister is probably aiming for Baron as well (she's a talented genius) but on the current path the only way we wind up making Baron is if Mom managed to break through to Count, or we marry well, or something like that. That's also not really a concern we should be having at this level. That's something to worry about much, much later.
For the third paragraph... I feel like you're grasping at straws here, honestly. We should be specializing into a role, not a specific skill. Handling that role properly is going to require more than one skill. We're going to want to be at least reasonably competent at all of the skills that that role demands of us. Eventually we will also be able to afford a hobby or two, though that might be a while. Regardless, it's a tradeoff. We wont' be putting any effort into Merchant for quite a while, and we might not ever. It depends on how much merchanting is actually a part of running the medicine hall. We'll almost certainly want to invest in diplomacy eventually, but it won't be soon. As for training actions also giving us other bonuses... I'm not sure how this is pertinent? It makes training actions somewhat more efficient, but it doesn't change the underlying structures that drive how much we want to go generalist as opposed to specialist.
Scheduled vote count started by Arcanestomper on Feb 17, 2025 at 1:56 AM, finished with 46 posts and 13 votes.
[X] Plan: Business and Teaching
--[X] Select a technique to boost with 3 TP. [2 TP Leaf Cauldron, 1 TP Iridescent Toxin]
-[X] Cultivate: +.2 TP for every point on the roll
--[X] Administrator
-[X] Monitor Maple Cadre (Goal: 7/20)
-[X] Write an Alchemy Manual (Goal: 9/20)
[X] Plan: Look into the problem.
--[X] Select a technique to boost with 3 TP. [2 TP Leaf Cauldron, 1 TP Iridescent Toxin]
-[X] Monitor Maple Cadre (Goal: 7/20)
-[X] Write an Alchemy Manual (Goal: 9/20)
-[X] Discuss Clan Matters with your Brother (Automatic)
[X] Plan Continue Our Work
--[X] Select a technique to boost with 3 TP. [2 TP Leaf Cauldron, 1 TP Iridescent Toxin]
-[X] Cultivate: +.2 TP for every point on the roll
--[X] Administrator
-[X] Monitor Maple Cadre (Goal: 7/20) (One completion per year)
-[X] Write an Alchemy Manual (Goal: 9/20)
There will be future opportunities for that. Getting a bonded spirit beast is a pretty common thing. The difficulty lies in the fact that you can only have one.
Scheduled vote count started by Arcanestomper on Feb 17, 2025 at 1:56 AM, finished with 46 posts and 13 votes.
[X] Plan: Business and Teaching
--[X] Select a technique to boost with 3 TP. [2 TP Leaf Cauldron, 1 TP Iridescent Toxin]
-[X] Cultivate: +.2 TP for every point on the roll
--[X] Administrator
-[X] Monitor Maple Cadre (Goal: 7/20)
-[X] Write an Alchemy Manual (Goal: 9/20)
[X] Plan: Look into the problem.
--[X] Select a technique to boost with 3 TP. [2 TP Leaf Cauldron, 1 TP Iridescent Toxin]
-[X] Monitor Maple Cadre (Goal: 7/20)
-[X] Write an Alchemy Manual (Goal: 9/20)
-[X] Discuss Clan Matters with your Brother (Automatic)
[X] Plan Continue Our Work
--[X] Select a technique to boost with 3 TP. [2 TP Leaf Cauldron, 1 TP Iridescent Toxin]
-[X] Cultivate: +.2 TP for every point on the roll
--[X] Administrator
-[X] Monitor Maple Cadre (Goal: 7/20) (One completion per year)
-[X] Write an Alchemy Manual (Goal: 9/20)
[X] Plan: Business and Teaching
--[X] Select a technique to boost with 3 TP. [Cultivation]
-[X] Cultivate: +.2 TP for every point on the roll
--[X] Administrator
-[X] Monitor Maple Cadre (Goal: 7/20)
-[X] Write an Alchemy Manual (Goal: 9/20)
We should just focus on our strengths at this point and on making progress in securing and improving our pavilion. The clock is too close to finishing that attempting to get personally involved now might possibly backlash against us.
For next turn, we might want to consider stockpiling some Flowing Ivy Elixir.
Actually... @Arcanestomper, this is something that we'd probably know in character. Given the magnitude of the claims that were being made in The Kasjan Dispute, would "a half-dozen vials of Flowing Ivy Elixir" be a useful addition to an appropriate apology gift, if it turns out that our clan needs to make an apology gift? (We currently have one, and I'm pretty sure we can get five more with a couple of actions)
ahh so that's why the revered elders of the clan didn't deal with the bandits themselves, They would have rather have that minor trouble gain some traction then have the major one tick. then we came in without consulting there grand wisdom and resolved it before it could take some of fates misfortune.
For next turn, we might want to consider stockpiling some Flowing Ivy Elixir.
Actually... @Arcanestomper, this is something that we'd probably know in character. Given the magnitude of the claims that were being made in The Kasjan Dispute, would "a half-dozen vials of Flowing Ivy Elixir" be a useful addition to an appropriate apology gift, if it turns out that our clan needs to make an apology gift? (We currently have one, and I'm pretty sure we can get five more with a couple of actions)
ahh so that's why the revered elders of the clan didn't deal with the bandits themselves, They would have rather have that minor trouble gain some traction then have the major one tick. then we came in without consulting there grand wisdom and resolved it before it could take some of fates misfortune.
[X] Plan: Business and Teaching
--[X] Select a technique to boost with 3 TP. [Cultivation]
-[X] Cultivate: +.2 TP for every point on the roll
--[X] Administrator
-[X] Monitor Maple Cadre (Goal: 7/20)
-[X] Write an Alchemy Manual (Goal: 9/20)
As the leaves begin to turn you decide to seek inspiration outside the pavilion. You head to the Tower of the Moon. Perched on a hill somewhat separated from the main complex it reaches into the sky like a massive pillar. Here the astrologers of the Zhuge clan constantly divine the heavens and monitor the omens for both auspicious tidings and misfortune.
You aren't here for a reading however but rather to talk to Pavilion Lord Po, or as you call him Grand Uncle Po. You've always had a friendly relationship and you hope to ask for advice. You have prepared a gift of an exquisite package of tea leaves from your own gardens. You know exactly which kind he likes most and his eyes brighten when he sees the bundle.
Inviting you into his study the two of you share tea and pleasantries before getting down to your real business. You ask him about all manner of small things you have had issues with. Little tidbits of how to handle unruly underlings and ambitious egos. Between his direct advice and several rambling anecdotes you glean quite a lot of wisdom. You feel you are better equipped to run the pavilion now.
However before you return to managing the sect as a whole you spend some time managing the Maple apprentices. It hasn't been that long yet so they haven't encountered any major stumbling blocks in their pursuit of alchemy yet, however they have encountered social issues. There are apprentices and even alchemists who dislike their more favored status, and have been pressuring them behind the scenes to transfer to different pavilions or even drop out entirely.
You put a stop to that swiftly enough by expelling the worst perpetrators. You aren't the best with people but you also try to encourage the apprentices themselves and give them a boost of confidence. After all, they have been personally taught by you. They are quite literally better than every other apprentice in the pavilion. You aren't sure how well it took, but you aren't that concerned. If a few of them do end up leaving it won't overly affect your goals.
Afterwards you spend the rest of your time pondering your alchemy scrolls and revising your work to be both more accessible and more interesting to a casual reader. You decide to take a multi pronged approach to this. First you include a variety of recipes for easy to make elixirs with interesting effects. Low level, but something an apprentice can make on their own.
Then you add some descriptions of much higher level pills. Ones that would challenge a senior alchemist and even a few tantalizing hints of legendary pills even you have only heard of in stories. And then in between everything you weave excerpts of the life of a young wanderer.
Expelled from his clan he wanders the world until he receives the inheritance of a grandmaster alchemist. Then he uses various pills and concoctions to solve his problems. Those of course being the items you included recipes for. You can't write an entire story like this. You've heard of manuals like that. Ones where the story tells the blueprint of the technique, but you aren't skilled enough to tell a compelling epic or to seamlessly interweave alchemic information into the narrative. So for now you settle for simple excerpts. Maybe one day you'll be able to improve on these scrolls.
To test your efforts you take a couple of your scrolls and seek out your younger siblings. Like all members of the main family they are expected to learn at least a little alchemy and it isn't much trouble to give them a few scrolls you "picked up at the market". Of course they aren't interested immediately, but you are gratified when during their next alchemy lesson it manages to keep Huang's attention for a full half hour. And in fact sparks an argument as Zhen tries to find out what's so interesting.
You don't expect them to read the whole thing, but it clearly interests them more than alchemy scrolls you've given them in the past. Which means actual alchemy apprentices should get significantly more out of it. You give the scrolls to Miss An Lia and tell her to distribute copies to all the pavilion apprentices.
Expertise: (.25/Turn)
Discipline: (.25/Turn)
Suddenly you feel a hand clap you on the shoulder, "What are you doing with the brats? Trying to teach them alchemy. It's never going to work. They're worse than you."
Your sister scoffs and grabs the Properties of Natural Treasures from your desk. She quickly scans through it with all the speed of a higher realm cultivator. "I can see what you're going for, but your story structure is too bland. Heng Chao has no spark as a character. He's just a puppet for you to spill alchemy recipes with."
"What are you here for sister," you grumble. That's your best work she's criticizing. You'd like to see her try to write a novel with a technique in it.
She ignores you and smacks you on the head, "It's because you never go out. When was the last time you even left the compound? Stuck inside all day reading old scrolls. I'm going to do you a favor."
You immediately attempt to flee. Your sister never does you favors. But she catches your arm before you can even reach the door. "Oh ho, getting feisty brother. Well maybe if you trained more you'd be able to escape my hand. We're going on a trip."
You try to struggle, but it's useless. "I'm busy. I need to manage the silver grass pavilion. I can't just leave."
She starts pulling you along even as she scoffs, "I've heard you've already trained a batch of apprentices. Give them some time to season and it'll be fine. You're more important the pavilion anyway."
You are still struggling, but her grip is like iron. "Where are you taking me anyway?"
"Oh big brother asked me to take care of a beast tide. You've never fought one. So it'll be a good experience."
"Where is it? The Western Gate? How many soldiers are we bringing?" You start calculating how many elixirs you can make with the corpses of an average beast tide. It should give your storehouse quite a boost.
"The Night Tide Abyss. Just us." You whip out your daggers and stab your sister before making a break for it.
She just laughs and chases after you. "I told you you needed better poisons brother. That doesn't even sting."
You circulate the qi in your body harder in order to get your legs moving as fast as they can. "There's no way I'm going to the abyss with just you. I wouldn't go to the market with just you."
"Come on brother. You know I won't let you die. And think of all the interesting parts you'll be able to collect." She has a point: the beasts of the abyss are rich in qi. Of course that's why they're so dangerous.
The distraction is all she needs to catch you again, she waves a flask in your face. Even sealed it's rich scent and qi is refreshing. "Look, I still have the Bountiful Lily Elixir. Just come with me and it's yours."
You consider. You are keenly aware that she specified that she wouldn't let you die, but not that she'd keep you safe. You risked a spar, and took a beating, for the elixir before. But a beast tide in the Night Tide Abyss would be much worse. On the other hand there would be a rich harvest afterwards, and if your brother asked her to do it you know she'd deal with the monsters eventually.
You are still considering when you hear a refined voice, "What's going on here." Both of you instantly straighten and even your sister looks a little serious for once. "Oh I was just telling Liang about the beast tide. He was begging me to go, but I told him it was too dangerous." You don't know how she lies with such a straight face.
Standing before is a man in pale green robes. His face is graced with a faint smile, but his eyes bore into both of you like icey spears. "Is this true Liang, do you want to see the beast tide?"
This is your chance.
[ ] Yes, brother, I was interested in the harvest from the beast tide.
You foresee a lot of pain in your future, but the reward will also be substantial. The elixir, the remnants from defeating the beast tide, and perhaps even natural treasures from the abyss itself.
Will take your entire next turn.
[ ] I am interested, but sadly I can't leave the pavilion right now.
You like your body intact, and you distinctly remember the pain from the last time you fell for your sister's provocations. You do still have work to do in the silver grass pavilion as well.
Alchemist Bonus
--- [ ] Select a technique to boost with 3 TP. [Cultivation, School of the Jade Cauldron, School of the Iridescent Toxin]
Turn Actions
You may personally lead 3 actions without penalty.
Remember that you can also write omakes for other members of the clan to deal with issues you can't.
Cultivation (+7) [Cultivation]
[ ] Cultivate: +.2 TP for every point on the roll (Stress: +1)
--- [ ] Select a trait, skill, or technique to boost with the XP gained.
------ [ ] Who benefits from this boost?
[ ] Plant the Seed (Goal: 50)
Nurture your spiritual core by providing it with plenty of wood qi. Prepare a space in your soul to accept it by obtaining enlightenments as to your path. You will need to have a firm conviction and understanding of yourself in order to provide sufficient insights for the core to take root.
Your mother has asked you to wait before doing this.
[ ] Watering the Roots (Goal 100)
Locked
[ ] Pruning the Sapling (Goal 150)
Locked
[ ] Breakthrough: Eating the Fruit (Goal: ??)
Locked
Administration (+3) [Administration]
[ ] Recruit More Alchemists (Goal: 0/10) (Spirit Stones: $1)
Send An Lia out into the city to hire more alchemists for the pavilion. There are always small alchemist shops and loose cultivators that can be recruited by a large clan like the Zhuge. They won't be the best or most loyal, but that can be fixed with time.
Size: +1
[ ] Request More Alchemists (Goal: 0/10) (Reputation Test)
Request that the clan elders assign more alchemists to the silver grass pavilion. Despite your low clan influence this is still likely to be accepted simply because it isn't a very large demand. There are thousands of alchemists scattered among the various pavilions around the province.
Unless you happen to catch the clan elders in a bad mood these will likely be better than the alchemists you can recruit on your own.
Size: +1
[ ] Clean up Corruption (Goal: 0/20) (Stress: +0.25)
It will be rather difficult, but you can track down all the cases of corruption in the Silver Grass Pavilion and put an end to it. Many of the alchemists likely just need a warning, but some will need to be removed entirely. But it should get easier as you weed out the worst of the bunch.
Size: -1
Discipline: +1
Alchemy (+8) [Leaf Cauldron + Core]
[ ] Brew Flowing Ivy Elixir (Goal: 3/5 Repeatable) (1/3 Stress Free)
It's always good to have some healing elixirs on hand. You already have the recipe so it shouldn't be too hard to brew a few elixirs. You will gain 1 elixir for each five points of progress.
[ ] Research a new Recipe (Goal: ??)
--[ ] What kind of elixir are you trying to make?
You can try to figure out the recipe for a new pill or elixir. You are quite talented in alchemy so you can try to make nearly anything, but more complex and potent recipes will be harder. They may also require more exotic ingredients.
[ ] Use a Flowing Ivy Elixir (1 Elixir)
-[ ] The Target
Use 1 elixir and your wood qi to fully heal a cultivator of the Knight realm or below.
[ ] Assign the Silver Grass Pavilion a Task
-[ ] Elixir or research
You are the head of the pavilion. You can assign the pavilion as a whole tasks to complete. Even in its current state the alchemists will still carry out your orders. Though their output will be limited.
Automatically carries out a task.
Will continue every turn until stopped.
[ ] Purchase New Equipment (Goal: 0/10) (Spirit Stones: $5)
You can purchase some better pill cauldrons from the markets in Fragrant Lotus City. This won't be cheap. You'll need to save up for some time, ask the elders for more stones, or find another way to make money. But it should noticeably improve the output of the pavilion's alchemists.
Facilities: Fine -> Good
[ ] Lead a Grand Project
-[ ] Write in Goal
In order to increase the loyalty of the alchemists in the Silver Grass Pavilion you need to prove that you are a capable leader who can provide them with benefits in the future. You aren't sure how exactly to do that at the moment, but you can start by proving that you are a capable alchemist.
The best way you can think to do that is to marshal the entire pavilion into a grand working producing a rare pill of high grade and realm. This will be a complex endeavor. So your first step will be figuring out what you want to try and make.
Quest (+4) [School of the Iridescent Toxin]
[ ] Go on an Adventure (Goal: ??)
You probably shouldn't be heading out to explore ruins and look for treasures on your own, but you don't have anything else particularly pressing to do. Take some time off to go slay monsters, search ancient palaces, and roam the wild lands looking for fortunate encounters. (Depending on the roll you can find useful locations, harvest rare materials, loot treasures, tame spirit beasts, increase your cultivation, and possibly reduce stress.)
Learning (+5) [Sage]
[ ] Teach Senior Alchemists (Goal: 0/10) (Face Test) (Stress: +1)
You are the best alchemist in the silver grass pavilion, and you could teach even the most senior alchemists in the pavilion a thing or two. Unfortunately many of them are significantly older than you and unlikely to listen well. You'll have to force them to accept your teachings.
Expertise: +1 Grade
[ ] Consider Other Promising Apprentices (Goal: 0/20)
The last batch of apprentices weren't terrible, but it is beneath your dignity to continuously teach apprentices every year. Not to mention you lack both the time and inclination to do so on a regular basis. Still the idea has merit. You just need to find some competent teachers to handle the majority of the work. There will likely be some pushback from the alchemists who prefer to handle their apprentices on a personal basis, but you aren't looking to teach every apprentice like this anyway.
Organize an apprentice teaching system.
[ ] Monitor Maple Cadre (Goal: 17/20) (One completion per year)
You don't want to spend all your time on your chosen apprentices. They aren't personal disciples or anything, but you shouldn't leave them entirely to their own devices either. You can take some time every so often to check on them. Ensure that they have what they need, answer their questions, and make sure they aren't getting in trouble.
Maple Cadre Progress: +1
Diplomacy (+0) [Diplomat]
[ ] Request a Larger Budget (Goal: 0/20) (Reputation Check) (Stress: +1)
The clan elders are unlikely to grant the Silver Grass Pavilion more money, but you can always ask.
Budget: +?
[ ] Request a Personal Stipend (Goal: 0/20) (Face Check) (Stress: +1)
You could also ask the elders for a personal allotment of spirit stones. You'd be free to use these spirit stones in any way you wish. If they agree to grant your request of course.
Spirit Stones: +?
Personal [Automatic success]
[ ] Spend Time with your Family (Automatic)
You could try to spend some time with your siblings, or even your mother. You don't know who would be available so it would be up to fate who exactly you can pull away from their duties.
[ ] Discuss Clan Matters with your Brother (Automatic)
You wish to prove yourself to the clan so discuss with your brother how you can help with the current diplomatic dispute with the Kasjan clan. Your initial plan is to make a significant amount of Flowing Ivy elixirs to offer as a potential reparation if such becomes necessary.
