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The Path Unending (A Cultivation Quest)

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[X] A bull charging across an open field.

Assuming this is Time Anam I'm most interested in applying to our first, and our self made, technique.
 
Hoo boy. I think I understand what's going on here, sort of.

Vesvius said:
Zhuan Kun makes no move to gather his own forces, though. "Better," he allows after a moment. "Your performance in that game was acceptable for one of your experience level. Do you know what your biggest mistake was?"
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Vesvius said:
"Indeed you did," Zhuan Kun agrees. He glances at the model in question and then at the small armies of fallen figures surrounding it. "The Wavecrown is an important Natural Wonder, true. It is a credit to you that you moved so decisively to claim it. But its positioning on the board left it in easy striking distance for both your Reaper Apes and the Dweller Above. Using both of them depleted your forces and cost you flexibility."
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We erred in this loop, by making our intentions to obvious. We gained information and advantage, but exposed ourselves.

Vesvius said:
I stare blankly at the board for a long moment before turning back to Zhuan Kun. "...the Natural Wonders have special abilities?" I ask.

Zhuan Kun's head cocks to the side like a confused hound. "Yes, they do," comes his blunt answer. "Did I not mention that?"
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There is a Wonder involved here, with special properties.

Vesvius said:
"You play boldly," the noble says after a short eternity. My Broken Emissary, that figure of broken glass that so captured my attention in the Foemaster's halls, has drawn his attention as I move it into the middle of a river. "Too boldly. If you do not disguise your movements, your intentions become clear."
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More "be more subtle" advice.
Vesvius said:
"If your actions are not properly disguised," the nobles breathes. "Then the consequences will find you sooner rather than later."
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We are on a timer.
Vesvius said:
I let out a low sigh, but Zhuan Kun isn't done yet. "What's more," he states. "Your lack of obfuscation has made things more difficult for you in future games. Even after the end of this round, I know that you know the import of the Shivering Rapids. I will be able to prepare for your assault, and I will be wary of any future moves you make in their direction. The Rapids are lost to you not just in this game, but in the next as well."
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We will not be able to go back to the Weaver.
Vesvius said:
"It did," he allows. "Yet you used your Night Lurker to slay a few of my Hatchlings. It was like sending a Warlord to crush a group of Seated. It was effective, certainly, but it could have been achieved without going to such lengths."
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We can use our resources more effectively. Either ZK or Mei Daiyu should be assigned different tasks.
Vesvius said:
"Now, excuse me." Zhuan Kun says, his voice steady. "There are people in need of aid within this village, and I stand shield over any who require it." Then he is gone, eye forward as he marches down the path.
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Vesvius said:
"You did," he replies. His hands are braced on the table, his eyes still trained on the terrain. "And though it is inconsequential, it was still unpleasant. So yes, you were able to attain a measure of success- one I was prepared to grant you, but still a measure of success."

I let out a low breath as the pressure grows, pushing at my shoulders. "It… was there a move I should have done instead?" I ask.

"Perhaps," he answers. Still, he does not look at me. "But all that matters are the moves you made."
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The figure who represents ZK is trying to be helpful, in their way
Vesvius said:
<Boredom. Hunger. Anger.>
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Vesvius said:
<Shock. Surprise. Fury.>
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There is a kukuni. I think the kukuni and ZK figure are separate. Maybe a bonded pair, trapped together? Or just stalemated.

Vesvius said:
Pure power pushes against my skin and against my eyes. It is the passing moments, the weight of the ages seeking to invade my body and crush my spirit. My own anam rushes to meet it, tangling together with the invading power and pulling it into my natural rhythm. Anam seethes beneath my skin, threatening to boil me with more power than I've ever held within my body before.
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The 'weight of ages' makes it feel like this is Time anam, but not Time anam like we're familiar with. Now we choose what tech to incorporate it into, I guess.

[x] A hound bellowing out a warcry.

I'm sure nothing will go wrong with linking our voice to Time, it's not like there's a terribly portentious figure noted for Time-voice...
 
Ok, this was unexpected but very cool. Now we know that we overcommitted with our previous choices, and there will be counterplay by other elements depending on our choices.

Also holly shit, that cycling roll was amazing. We may have completely failed the first roll in the chapter, but getting 11 successes with 10 dice is crazy.
 
[X] A fire burning through the forest.

Our only Fire technique has just had its other kind of Anam scrubbed from it, leaving it quite boring. Adding Time (or whatever this is) seems more interesting and less damaging there than elsewhere.
 
[X] A fire burning through the forest.

Our one Fire technique is uniquely prepared to accept new anam that is more closely aligned with Kong Zhi.
 
I think it's interesting to note that we can't select our martial technique to cycle this anam into. This seems like a point in favor of the theory that the vote will modify the technique. At the same time it's possible that it will just be a cycling check, which is still nice.
 
[x] A hound bellowing out a warcry

A scholar technique with Time anam sounds fun. Also we got advice on how to solve the loop! Be more subtle, make use of our allies, and find which objectives our opponent can't afford to lose.
 
[X] A fire burning through the forest.

I'm convinced by the "potentially make the generic fire technique more interesting" angle; Warhound's Cry has plenty of meaning to it already just from the context in which we got it.
 
[X] A fire burning through the forest.

Might as well see what this weird moment does to our newest and thus far blandest technique.
 
Vesvius said:
However, while the last piece seems at least interesting artistically, it is the one after that that nudges my interest. It is a larger piece, one easily bigger than six of the other pieces combined. Unlike most of the other tokens, it does not resemble man nor beast. Instead it looks as if a thousand shards of broken glass came together to create an enormous, four-legged beast. The way the model is cut is exemplary, with hundreds of facets each burnished to a mirror sheen. It would be blinding to look at save for the cunning work done with its plating and painting. Instead of reflecting all light, it seems to allow it to pass into the model's center and vanish, leaving only an empty shimmering void.

Before I can inspect any more of its many, many details, the model is pulled away from me. "No, no, no!" the Foemaster bellows. "It does not-"

"Excuse me," I hurry to interject, interrupting the man's rant before it can truly begin. "But I was not done with that one. May I see it again please?"

The Foemaster shakes his head. "No. My apologies, Kong Zhi, but the Broken Emissary has the complete opposite energy of you. It needs-"

There is no holding back my sigh. "Just… just give it here."

Slowly, the Foemaster turns back and drops the figure into my hands. I hold it up to the light to get a better view of its intricate design. The larger size of this piece allows it to be more detailed than its smaller brethren, and the artisan who worked on it used every last bit of space. The facets, which appeared seamless at first glance, are slightly misaligned in certain places. But no mistake has been made; those small gaps reveal glimpses of something dark and almost hungry. Whatever is hidden by the shining shards wants its freedom, and it wants it immediately.
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The Broken Emissary piece received some attention in this update, here's some relevant info on it from when it was introduced.
 
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