- Location
- Sydney
[X] Firmness
A Shitty Shonen Quest
- Thread starter hYGP
- Start date
- Location
- va
[X] Charm
DarkKing98
Certified Village Idiot
- Location
- USA
[X] Charm
Year One In Review
- Location
- Somewhere over the rainbow
[X] Charm
Perk Gained!
The Heart I: Any group that you become part of, bonds together tighter by your presence. Lowered Leadership Checks! Increased SL gain! Increased rate of Group Perk Generation!
Alright, so now that the first year's over, let's talk about how we both did, alright?
First: No credit for dice, though you should definitely call me out on fudged results if you think that's happened.
Beginning in character generation, you picked one of the two options that would give you a bonus to Shattering The Limit; taking both Spear and Daughter would've given you a +4 to Shattering The Limit over the +2 you have right now.
Alright, fine, whatever. It does mean that your background rolls were just neutral instead of having bonuses or maluses, so that's probably acceptable; admittedly, part of it was that I wasn't exactly telling you outright that these were the consequences, but it looks like you guys mostly figured it out, so good on you.
Market gave you Perceptive.
Taking Farming would've given you Hard-working, pushing you training modifiers past Genius for Martial alone and otherwise equal to the Genius trait everywhere else.
Taking cooking would've given you Greedy.
(Ironic, yes, but consider that you are watching out for your Dad in the marketplace business and want more food for yourself in the kitchen, albeit those can be easily switched)
Your Harvest Season Actions were pretty good, it's just that your Network roll was garbage so that kind of spilled over.
Your funeral decisions were in hindsight pretty smart, but on the other hand, you did kinda put away a 400 Quality Sword into the ground for benefits you won't see for a while yet; yes, there were specific benefits to taking and burying those.
In your marketplace actions, if you had Pried and bought Snake Oil, you could've gifted it to Xin Jin and instantly got to a 5 SL, maxing it out without a Quest to progress it. However, since you did not buy Snake Oil, not prying was the correct move.
Your Winter Season Decisions were good, and you picked up several criticals along the way. Not much to say there.
Stopping the event was the correct decision, as it opened up your SLs with them rather than have them just ignore you in favor of each other. That's pretty significant, because when you next rolled a critical it contributed to the reputation Dong Gancai had of you (speaking of which, rip, you were glorious for the half-year you were alive).
You took the plot hook, so alright, you made the right call with Teng Jian and the Retainers, and then screwed up the whole "Let's inflict massive self-injury to ourselves to show off to Dong Gancai", but whatever, your information seemed to point towards "let's go big or go home" at that point so I don't really blame you for that.
Saying that you made a mistake would've given you a Trait Evolution, changing Perceptive to Reflective.
The option you picked kinda sorta improved Perception in the background, insofar as I remembered to let you have more flashes of insights and opportunities.
Pride would've defined the steps down the Pride tree.
Faith would've maxed out your Piety and given you Instinct I.
Meeting Wei Yahui, you picked the safe option, which means that he sorta approved because you shared his view. Going straight to idiot would've been a slight improvement, but you expressed enough discontent and chutzpah that he just brought you in, no questions asked.
Your Summer Plan was...not optimal going in. I'm not sure that there was really an expectation that "we're going to solve our problems by talking" going in or "we're going to get like a seasons' worth of extra Actions", so from that perspective "let's go raise Charisma and Learning" would've basically sidelined you during the actual fight, and your "let's train Charisma and Martial" lucked right into being the critical factor.
Going straight to Gancai was a decision that turned out well because of your high roll; it was honestly the high-variance decision, while Marketplace would've let you buy some cool shit and Network probably wouldn't've achieved anything.
Asking about Ou Zhi was definitely the move. Going in was the last time you could avoid incredible risk of death, but you pushed it, so...
Your first set of Royal Harem actions were a bit suboptimal; training Martial and SLing Zhang Lei was definitely the right move, but you would've been better off using one generic Network action directed towards the Royal Harem as a whole; it would've unlocked Lei Qi's SL earlier than literally the last day, for sure.
Calling Li Mao sister was the right decision.
Declaring it to be confidence was locking in what you'd have to say to Zhang Lei in the future.
Plan Meowtial was pretty good, though it could've again used a general Network action to meet Lei Qi on your own without resorting to hoping the background encounter roll was high enough.
In the combined SL, the best result would've been to tell both, the second-best would've been to tell Ou Yan (you literally told a Royal, disguised as he was, to shut up and make nice, yeah that's confident), and the merely acceptable would've been to tell Ou Zhi's story. Because bluntly, you didn't do much except take an interest when Ou Zhi picked you up; Zhang Lei was sort of glad you got to spend this time, but it planted a seed of doubt in her mind and she was already inclined towards Ou Di.
The absolute correct decision for your encounter with Ou Di would've been to call for Zhang Lei. Li Mao's alliance was secured, but Zhang Lei was on the fence; seeing Ou Di try to assault you in the middle of the night would've assured that she was on your side. As is, you got her on your side, but only because of a sufficiently high roll.
Knock him out would've been by far the worst decision; it makes you look like you assaulted Ou Di for no reason, because you hadn't built a rapport with the wider Harem at all. Yeah.
Your distribution for the first phase of Longest Night was good.
Going into the Sewers was the correct decision, because veekie correctly identified that the situation was so shitty you had to do something risky to unfuck it.
Trying to convince Lin was the correct decision; you succeeded due to a successful Charisma check to make him reconsider his stance, and a whole pile of his traits and perks negating a nat 1 on his Learning Roll. Yeah.
Committing everyone to the Rescue was a good decision, although it didn't make much difference in the end.
That concludes my end of the screed; what comments, criticisms, and questions do you all have?
I'd be willing to, until the next threadmark, answer any questions you like.
Perk Gained!
The Heart I: Any group that you become part of, bonds together tighter by your presence. Lowered Leadership Checks! Increased SL gain! Increased rate of Group Perk Generation!
Alright, so now that the first year's over, let's talk about how we both did, alright?
First: No credit for dice, though you should definitely call me out on fudged results if you think that's happened.
Beginning in character generation, you picked one of the two options that would give you a bonus to Shattering The Limit; taking both Spear and Daughter would've given you a +4 to Shattering The Limit over the +2 you have right now.
Alright, fine, whatever. It does mean that your background rolls were just neutral instead of having bonuses or maluses, so that's probably acceptable; admittedly, part of it was that I wasn't exactly telling you outright that these were the consequences, but it looks like you guys mostly figured it out, so good on you.
Market gave you Perceptive.
Taking Farming would've given you Hard-working, pushing you training modifiers past Genius for Martial alone and otherwise equal to the Genius trait everywhere else.
Taking cooking would've given you Greedy.
(Ironic, yes, but consider that you are watching out for your Dad in the marketplace business and want more food for yourself in the kitchen, albeit those can be easily switched)
Your Harvest Season Actions were pretty good, it's just that your Network roll was garbage so that kind of spilled over.
Your funeral decisions were in hindsight pretty smart, but on the other hand, you did kinda put away a 400 Quality Sword into the ground for benefits you won't see for a while yet; yes, there were specific benefits to taking and burying those.
In your marketplace actions, if you had Pried and bought Snake Oil, you could've gifted it to Xin Jin and instantly got to a 5 SL, maxing it out without a Quest to progress it. However, since you did not buy Snake Oil, not prying was the correct move.
Your Winter Season Decisions were good, and you picked up several criticals along the way. Not much to say there.
Stopping the event was the correct decision, as it opened up your SLs with them rather than have them just ignore you in favor of each other. That's pretty significant, because when you next rolled a critical it contributed to the reputation Dong Gancai had of you (speaking of which, rip, you were glorious for the half-year you were alive).
You took the plot hook, so alright, you made the right call with Teng Jian and the Retainers, and then screwed up the whole "Let's inflict massive self-injury to ourselves to show off to Dong Gancai", but whatever, your information seemed to point towards "let's go big or go home" at that point so I don't really blame you for that.
Saying that you made a mistake would've given you a Trait Evolution, changing Perceptive to Reflective.
The option you picked kinda sorta improved Perception in the background, insofar as I remembered to let you have more flashes of insights and opportunities.
Pride would've defined the steps down the Pride tree.
Faith would've maxed out your Piety and given you Instinct I.
Meeting Wei Yahui, you picked the safe option, which means that he sorta approved because you shared his view. Going straight to idiot would've been a slight improvement, but you expressed enough discontent and chutzpah that he just brought you in, no questions asked.
Your Summer Plan was...not optimal going in. I'm not sure that there was really an expectation that "we're going to solve our problems by talking" going in or "we're going to get like a seasons' worth of extra Actions", so from that perspective "let's go raise Charisma and Learning" would've basically sidelined you during the actual fight, and your "let's train Charisma and Martial" lucked right into being the critical factor.
Going straight to Gancai was a decision that turned out well because of your high roll; it was honestly the high-variance decision, while Marketplace would've let you buy some cool shit and Network probably wouldn't've achieved anything.
Asking about Ou Zhi was definitely the move. Going in was the last time you could avoid incredible risk of death, but you pushed it, so...
Your first set of Royal Harem actions were a bit suboptimal; training Martial and SLing Zhang Lei was definitely the right move, but you would've been better off using one generic Network action directed towards the Royal Harem as a whole; it would've unlocked Lei Qi's SL earlier than literally the last day, for sure.
Calling Li Mao sister was the right decision.
Declaring it to be confidence was locking in what you'd have to say to Zhang Lei in the future.
Plan Meowtial was pretty good, though it could've again used a general Network action to meet Lei Qi on your own without resorting to hoping the background encounter roll was high enough.
In the combined SL, the best result would've been to tell both, the second-best would've been to tell Ou Yan (you literally told a Royal, disguised as he was, to shut up and make nice, yeah that's confident), and the merely acceptable would've been to tell Ou Zhi's story. Because bluntly, you didn't do much except take an interest when Ou Zhi picked you up; Zhang Lei was sort of glad you got to spend this time, but it planted a seed of doubt in her mind and she was already inclined towards Ou Di.
The absolute correct decision for your encounter with Ou Di would've been to call for Zhang Lei. Li Mao's alliance was secured, but Zhang Lei was on the fence; seeing Ou Di try to assault you in the middle of the night would've assured that she was on your side. As is, you got her on your side, but only because of a sufficiently high roll.
Knock him out would've been by far the worst decision; it makes you look like you assaulted Ou Di for no reason, because you hadn't built a rapport with the wider Harem at all. Yeah.
Your distribution for the first phase of Longest Night was good.
Going into the Sewers was the correct decision, because veekie correctly identified that the situation was so shitty you had to do something risky to unfuck it.
Trying to convince Lin was the correct decision; you succeeded due to a successful Charisma check to make him reconsider his stance, and a whole pile of his traits and perks negating a nat 1 on his Learning Roll. Yeah.
Committing everyone to the Rescue was a good decision, although it didn't make much difference in the end.
That concludes my end of the screed; what comments, criticisms, and questions do you all have?
I'd be willing to, until the next threadmark, answer any questions you like.
Kinruush
Who?
- Location
- USA
I had no idea that was even an option. The vote choices looked like they only allowed for specific harem members.
- Location
- Somewhere over the rainbow
Yeah, let's clear that up real quick: You can always vote for the most general form of the action, or you could specify to achieve a certain effect. Note that you cannot just generically train, however; training requires you to focus on an area to improve.
Harvest Season I
- Location
- Somewhere over the rainbow
"Hey, Han Xiao, are you really leaving us?" Li Mao begged, draped over your former bed.
You hoist the traveling pack onto your back, stumbling for a moment as you adjust to the weight of your gifts that you had been lavished with. Slowly, ponderously, you turn towards a tearful Li Mao, and smile wanly.
[Trait: Perceptive]
"Yeah, Li Mao, I am; it's not anything you did, or anyone did, it's just something I have to do," you say.
"But whyyyyy? You were going to be my cute little sister and I was going to get to spoil you and you might even get to be bedded by Ou Zhi," she pleaded. "Don't tell me you didn't enjoy this, I know you did!"
"Yeah, it was the best time of my life," you say earnestly. "All the same, though, I have to go. My father's estate needs someone to manage it, and I still have yet to properly honor my father."
"Can't you just get, I dunno, someone to manage the farm for you? Just, call in a favor or something, and get them to run it while you stay here with us!"
[Trait: Proud]
"I couldn't run away from my own obligations like that," you say softly, hand on the doorframe.
You turn back to look at her sitting form, and lightly smile.
"But, Li Mao, I really did enjoy my time with you," you say.
And then stumble as Li Mao crashes into you, arms wrapped tightly around you. Both of you stumble, and then tip precariously as none of you realized that you were way too top heavy until -
"Try to avoid stumbling too much, will you?" Zhang Lei says, expression as though she's drifting on clouds. "I would hate for your return trip to be marred by ruining your gifts, Han Xiao."
"What?! Zhang Lei, you're just letting her go?! Li Mao indignantly cries, instantly dropping out her own support as soon as she was on secure footing, leaving you to scramble to keep your pack on and up.
"A woman has needs, and she deserves to have them satisfied like me," Zhang Lei preens.
Li Mao's jaw drops, and -
Wait.
Learning: 70 Opposed: 1 - 15 (Perceptive)
Oh.
Huh.
Well, that was a thing.
"All the same, though, are you sure you don't want to stay behind to be...satisfied?" Zhang Lei said, cruelly upturned lips leaving no doubt as to the implications.
Martial: 110 Opposed: 130
Profusely blushing, you stammer out a denial, that you aren't that -
Zhang Lei holds up a hand, unable to stop herself from tittering at you.
"I will expect you to write back, Han Xiao. Otherwise, go with our blessings," she smiled, letting you pass.
Behind you, someone cleared their throat.
Slowly and ponderously turning, you caught sight of Li Qiu.
"Ah, apologies, Li Qiu," you slightly bend, trying not to tip too far forward. "I did not notice you there," you say, noticing for the first time how she's a head shorter than Li Mao and nearly escaped your gaze.
"So I'm told, quite often," she responds tartly, though you know she doesn't really mean it.
"I really am, though," you blush.
"I believe you," she said, and you didn't believe it for a heartbeat.
You held each other's gazes for a moment, one demanding recompense and the other trying to provide it.
Finally her face softened, and she hugged you.
"It was nice meeting you," she said.
"It was nice meeting you too," you say, patting her on the back.
"Well," she said, skipping back, "I wish you the best of luck, whereever you go, Han Xiao! Don't forget to write," she said, tilting her head and smiling a promise to come down and make your next eighteen generations remember breaking the promise if you did.
"Don't worry," you softly smile, "I won't."
Then you turn back, and head for the stairs.
"Yo, Baronet of Erse village," Wei Yahui weakly raises his hand, leaning against the village gate and forcibly affecting his devil-may-care bravado. "Don't forget to swing by Nanhu in the spring, yeah? Dong Gancai woulda wanted it that way," he said.
"Don't worry, I won't forget," you say, slightly inclining your head.
"Good," he half-smiled as only those who lost the most important person in the world could.
You nodded, and then made to keep going.
Background Roll: 71
"Wait, Han Xiao, I wouldn'ta stopped you just to tell you that," he said, holding out his hand. His other hand, carefully tucked behind the wall, revealed a seal.
"Yeah. Couldn't really swing a Royal Seal for you, but I think this'll do just fine," he said. "Your word's backed by mine, now."
[Trait: Proud]
You frowned. Wei Yahui laughed.
"Oh, I get it. You'd rather your own family seal mean something, huh? Alright, just take it then; don't use it, just wave it around to show people that I trust you, yeah?"
You hesitate.
"Come on, ma- Han Xiao, don't do me like this! Just take it already," he said, pouting.
"I'll do it for that face," you say, taking the seal.
Wei Yahui's jaw drops for a moment, before cycling to anger and then laughter.
"Oh, man, you really got me going there for a moment," he chuckled. "Well, best of luck, Han Xiao," he waved, walking away.
"Yeah. You too," you say, walking forward. Out of the palace, and back to your home.
Quest Rewards:
Duke Wei Seal: Massive Reduction to Leadership Checks when used! Damages Self Esteem when used!
+ 900 Reputation!
+ 6000 Money!
Background Roll: 42
Your return home is nearly totally unremarkable, until you come within a day's walk of Nanhu village.
"Hello the camp!" a familiar voice calls out.
"Hello the traveler Xin Jin!" you call back, standing up from your fire.
"So you are alive! I've heard much about you, you Baronet you!" he beamed.
"Yes, I am," you wryly note. "Though I hope the two seasons have not passed as eventfully for you as they have for me. Past year was a little...too crazy to keep up," you say.
WELCOME TO SHONEN QUEST WHERE THE RIDE NEVER ENDS
Xin Jin laughs.
"Yeah, wasn't anything crazy like that. My old man got better, but he cut me loose to 'go make my own reputation you mooch,'" Xin Jin airquoted, laughing the whole while. Seems like his dad didn't really mean the words he said.
"And that's why you're here, mooching off of me," you deadpan.
Xin Jin claps a hand over his heart. "Oh, I am wounded!" he dramatically cries.
You roll your eyes, lightly punching him.
"Get over yourself, Xin Jin," you say.
He dramatically jolts back, as though struck a second time, slowly toppling over.
You raise an eyebrow.
Xin Jin persists in the act...until he realizes he's at very real danger of falling over. His flailing is a sight to behold.
Martial: 110 Opposed: 74
You sigh, and keep him from falling over. Once he's caught himself, he sighs in relief, and finally sloughs off his traveling pack, plopping to the ground with it.
"So, Baronet Xiao, what're you thinking you're gonna do?"
Due to traveling home, 1 Action has been [LOCKED]. Due to the Harvest and Selling Crops, 2 Actions have been [LOCKED]. Due to special circumstances, [LOCKED] [FREE] Network Action with Xin Jin! Select two actions.
Estate Stats:
Money: 6215
Reputation: 1215
Retainers: None
Equipment: Sword (500 Quality), Cloak, Heavy Leathers (Quality: 150), Han Seal (Reduces Leadership check), Writings (Improved Learning training rolls), Mementoes (???), Letters of Commendation (Duke Gancai), Armor (Quality: 400), Regalia (Quality: 300), Banner (Quality: 200), Bundle of Spears x25 (Quality: 200) , Wei Seal (Massively reduces Leadership Checks)
[] Network (Charisma) You have no familial connections and yet you are a Baronet, the Baronet of Erse village. Time to act like one.
-[] Retainers What kind of self-respecting noble doesn't have their own retainers? You should probably recruit a few, even if it means interacting with the other villagers.
[] Marketplace (Charisma+Leadership) Being freshly minted nobility will open doors and wallets. Probably.
[] Train (Specific Stat threshold) If Dad saw you, you know he'd be proud. Still, though, the heavens are vast and the earth is wide. You can't just sit on your laurels and expect the world to reward you for it!
[X] Harvest Crops (-20 Seasons of Planted Crops, +20 Seasons of Crops) [LOCKED] You might have to fight off a coup attempt, but damn if you were going to let your planted crops go to waste!
[X] Marketplace (-20 Seasons of Crops, +100? Money) [LOCKED] If you're gonna harvest 'em, you might as well sell 'em. Waste not, want not, as Dad would say.
You hoist the traveling pack onto your back, stumbling for a moment as you adjust to the weight of your gifts that you had been lavished with. Slowly, ponderously, you turn towards a tearful Li Mao, and smile wanly.
[Trait: Perceptive]
"Yeah, Li Mao, I am; it's not anything you did, or anyone did, it's just something I have to do," you say.
"But whyyyyy? You were going to be my cute little sister and I was going to get to spoil you and you might even get to be bedded by Ou Zhi," she pleaded. "Don't tell me you didn't enjoy this, I know you did!"
"Yeah, it was the best time of my life," you say earnestly. "All the same, though, I have to go. My father's estate needs someone to manage it, and I still have yet to properly honor my father."
"Can't you just get, I dunno, someone to manage the farm for you? Just, call in a favor or something, and get them to run it while you stay here with us!"
[Trait: Proud]
"I couldn't run away from my own obligations like that," you say softly, hand on the doorframe.
You turn back to look at her sitting form, and lightly smile.
"But, Li Mao, I really did enjoy my time with you," you say.
And then stumble as Li Mao crashes into you, arms wrapped tightly around you. Both of you stumble, and then tip precariously as none of you realized that you were way too top heavy until -
"Try to avoid stumbling too much, will you?" Zhang Lei says, expression as though she's drifting on clouds. "I would hate for your return trip to be marred by ruining your gifts, Han Xiao."
"What?! Zhang Lei, you're just letting her go?! Li Mao indignantly cries, instantly dropping out her own support as soon as she was on secure footing, leaving you to scramble to keep your pack on and up.
"A woman has needs, and she deserves to have them satisfied like me," Zhang Lei preens.
Li Mao's jaw drops, and -
Wait.
Learning: 70 Opposed: 1 - 15 (Perceptive)
Oh.
Huh.
Well, that was a thing.
"All the same, though, are you sure you don't want to stay behind to be...satisfied?" Zhang Lei said, cruelly upturned lips leaving no doubt as to the implications.
Martial: 110 Opposed: 130
Profusely blushing, you stammer out a denial, that you aren't that -
Zhang Lei holds up a hand, unable to stop herself from tittering at you.
"I will expect you to write back, Han Xiao. Otherwise, go with our blessings," she smiled, letting you pass.
Behind you, someone cleared their throat.
Slowly and ponderously turning, you caught sight of Li Qiu.
"Ah, apologies, Li Qiu," you slightly bend, trying not to tip too far forward. "I did not notice you there," you say, noticing for the first time how she's a head shorter than Li Mao and nearly escaped your gaze.
"So I'm told, quite often," she responds tartly, though you know she doesn't really mean it.
"I really am, though," you blush.
"I believe you," she said, and you didn't believe it for a heartbeat.
You held each other's gazes for a moment, one demanding recompense and the other trying to provide it.
Finally her face softened, and she hugged you.
"It was nice meeting you," she said.
"It was nice meeting you too," you say, patting her on the back.
"Well," she said, skipping back, "I wish you the best of luck, whereever you go, Han Xiao! Don't forget to write," she said, tilting her head and smiling a promise to come down and make your next eighteen generations remember breaking the promise if you did.
"Don't worry," you softly smile, "I won't."
Then you turn back, and head for the stairs.
"Yo, Baronet of Erse village," Wei Yahui weakly raises his hand, leaning against the village gate and forcibly affecting his devil-may-care bravado. "Don't forget to swing by Nanhu in the spring, yeah? Dong Gancai woulda wanted it that way," he said.
"Don't worry, I won't forget," you say, slightly inclining your head.
"Good," he half-smiled as only those who lost the most important person in the world could.
You nodded, and then made to keep going.
Background Roll: 71
"Wait, Han Xiao, I wouldn'ta stopped you just to tell you that," he said, holding out his hand. His other hand, carefully tucked behind the wall, revealed a seal.
"Yeah. Couldn't really swing a Royal Seal for you, but I think this'll do just fine," he said. "Your word's backed by mine, now."
[Trait: Proud]
You frowned. Wei Yahui laughed.
"Oh, I get it. You'd rather your own family seal mean something, huh? Alright, just take it then; don't use it, just wave it around to show people that I trust you, yeah?"
You hesitate.
"Come on, ma- Han Xiao, don't do me like this! Just take it already," he said, pouting.
"I'll do it for that face," you say, taking the seal.
Wei Yahui's jaw drops for a moment, before cycling to anger and then laughter.
"Oh, man, you really got me going there for a moment," he chuckled. "Well, best of luck, Han Xiao," he waved, walking away.
"Yeah. You too," you say, walking forward. Out of the palace, and back to your home.
Quest Rewards:
Duke Wei Seal: Massive Reduction to Leadership Checks when used! Damages Self Esteem when used!
+ 900 Reputation!
+ 6000 Money!
Background Roll: 42
Your return home is nearly totally unremarkable, until you come within a day's walk of Nanhu village.
"Hello the camp!" a familiar voice calls out.
"Hello the traveler Xin Jin!" you call back, standing up from your fire.
"So you are alive! I've heard much about you, you Baronet you!" he beamed.
"Yes, I am," you wryly note. "Though I hope the two seasons have not passed as eventfully for you as they have for me. Past year was a little...too crazy to keep up," you say.
WELCOME TO SHONEN QUEST WHERE THE RIDE NEVER ENDS
Xin Jin laughs.
"Yeah, wasn't anything crazy like that. My old man got better, but he cut me loose to 'go make my own reputation you mooch,'" Xin Jin airquoted, laughing the whole while. Seems like his dad didn't really mean the words he said.
"And that's why you're here, mooching off of me," you deadpan.
Xin Jin claps a hand over his heart. "Oh, I am wounded!" he dramatically cries.
You roll your eyes, lightly punching him.
"Get over yourself, Xin Jin," you say.
He dramatically jolts back, as though struck a second time, slowly toppling over.
You raise an eyebrow.
Xin Jin persists in the act...until he realizes he's at very real danger of falling over. His flailing is a sight to behold.
Martial: 110 Opposed: 74
You sigh, and keep him from falling over. Once he's caught himself, he sighs in relief, and finally sloughs off his traveling pack, plopping to the ground with it.
"So, Baronet Xiao, what're you thinking you're gonna do?"
Due to traveling home, 1 Action has been [LOCKED]. Due to the Harvest and Selling Crops, 2 Actions have been [LOCKED]. Due to special circumstances, [LOCKED] [FREE] Network Action with Xin Jin! Select two actions.
Estate Stats:
Money: 6215
Reputation: 1215
Retainers: None
Equipment: Sword (500 Quality), Cloak, Heavy Leathers (Quality: 150), Han Seal (Reduces Leadership check), Writings (Improved Learning training rolls), Mementoes (???), Letters of Commendation (Duke Gancai), Armor (Quality: 400), Regalia (Quality: 300), Banner (Quality: 200), Bundle of Spears x25 (Quality: 200) , Wei Seal (Massively reduces Leadership Checks)
[] Network (Charisma) You have no familial connections and yet you are a Baronet, the Baronet of Erse village. Time to act like one.
-[] Retainers What kind of self-respecting noble doesn't have their own retainers? You should probably recruit a few, even if it means interacting with the other villagers.
[] Marketplace (Charisma+Leadership) Being freshly minted nobility will open doors and wallets. Probably.
[] Train (Specific Stat threshold) If Dad saw you, you know he'd be proud. Still, though, the heavens are vast and the earth is wide. You can't just sit on your laurels and expect the world to reward you for it!
[X] Harvest Crops (-20 Seasons of Planted Crops, +20 Seasons of Crops) [LOCKED] You might have to fight off a coup attempt, but damn if you were going to let your planted crops go to waste!
[X] Marketplace (-20 Seasons of Crops, +100? Money) [LOCKED] If you're gonna harvest 'em, you might as well sell 'em. Waste not, want not, as Dad would say.
Last edited:
- Location
- Phoenix, AZ
Hmm... we have quite a bit of money. Adventuring pays quite handsomely it seems.
Farming.... uh... doesn't. We should get people to farm for us so we can do other things. Maybe also find a doctor or something to patch us up on adventures? With that in mind:
[X] Network (Charisma) You have no familial connections and yet you are a Baronet, the Baronet of Erse village. Time to act like one. -[x] Retainers What kind of self-respecting noble doesn't have their own retainers? You should probably recruit a few, even if it means interacting with the other villagers.
I think the above would get us someone to travel with us?
[X] Marketplace (Charisma+Leadership) Being freshly minted nobility will open doors and wallets. Probably.
Any chance this can lead to us hiring a farmer? If not, then I'm on board with double retainer. Still need to limit break for useful martial training, so I'd prefer to gather people.
- Location
- va
[X] Network (Charisma) You have no familial connections and yet you are a Baronet, the Baronet of Erse village. Time to act like one. -[x] Retainers What kind of self-respecting noble doesn't have their own retainers? You should probably recruit a few, even if it means interacting with the other villagers.
- Location
- Somewhere over the rainbow
Kings tend to reward their rescuers handsomely yes
Yes, but not as effectively as a direct Retainer action; as a Marketplace Action you'd essentially be accepting offers as side business rather than the active seeking you do as part of a direct Retainer Action.
- Location
- Phoenix, AZ
Cool. In that case, I'm going to go with a plan for recruiting people directly. Is it ok to include specifics like below, or should I adjust it to just two retainers actions?Kings tend to reward their rescuers handsomely yes
Yes, but not as effectively as a direct Retainer action; as a Marketplace Action you'd essentially be accepting offers as side business rather than the active seeking you do as part of a direct Retainer Action.
[X] Network (Charisma) You have no familial connections and yet you are a Baronet, the Baronet of Erse village. Time to act like one.
-[X] Traveling Retainer Someone with skills or connections who would be helpful and fun to go on adventures with
[X] Network (Charisma) You have no familial connections and yet you are a Baronet, the Baronet of Erse village. Time to act like one.
-[X] Estate Retainer Someone trustworthy who can look after our estate while we go adventuring.
- Location
- Somewhere over the rainbow
Yep. That level of specificity is fine, but it'll start to raise background roll thresholds because you're starting to explicitly reject candidates.
- Location
- Phoenix, AZ
Hmm... will it improve the chances of finding those candidates? Because there's probably other people who may be useful to have as retainers (e.g. merchants (though we've all but got one of those), doctors, scribes, etc) but I'd prioritize the "adventuring" and "estate manager" roles. That said, if all adding specificity does here is make it so we reject other candidates, then I'd prefer to go with the general action and working with whatever roles we get.
- Location
- Somewhere over the rainbow
It improves your chances of finding the specific candidates; for example, let's take your traveling retainer example (which by the way is pretty funny to me for reasons in update).
Say the chance of finding a retainer in general was 80% with a general retainer Action, and that the chance of finding a traveling retainer candidate with a general retainer Action was 60%, with the other 20% failing to unlock a traveling retainer candidate but succeeds in finding a retainer candidate.
What a dedicated traveling merchant retainer Action would do is ensure that you get a traveling retainer option, but your probability of finding a retainer in general goes down to 70%, if that makes sense.
It also keeps me from surprising you, so there's that.
[X] Network (Charisma) You have no familial connections and yet you are a Baronet, the Baronet of Erse village. Time to act like one.
-[X] Traveling Retainer Someone with skills or connections who would be helpful and fun to go on adventures with
[X] Network (Charisma) You have no familial connections and yet you are a Baronet, the Baronet of Erse village. Time to act like one.
-[X] Estate Retainer Someone trustworthy who can look after our estate while we go adventuring.
-[X] Traveling Retainer Someone with skills or connections who would be helpful and fun to go on adventures with
[X] Network (Charisma) You have no familial connections and yet you are a Baronet, the Baronet of Erse village. Time to act like one.
-[X] Estate Retainer Someone trustworthy who can look after our estate while we go adventuring.
[X] Network (Charisma) You have no familial connections and yet you are a Baronet, the Baronet of Erse village. Time to act like one.
-[X] Estate Retainer Someone trustworthy who can look after our estate while we go adventuring.
[X] Marketplace (Charisma+Leadership) Being freshly minted nobility will open doors and wallets. Probably.
-[X] Estate Retainer Someone trustworthy who can look after our estate while we go adventuring.
[X] Marketplace (Charisma+Leadership) Being freshly minted nobility will open doors and wallets. Probably.
- Location
- Sydney
[X] Network (Charisma) You have no familial connections and yet you are a Baronet, the Baronet of Erse village. Time to act like one.
-[X] Estate Retainer Someone trustworthy who can look after our estate while we go adventuring.
[X] Network (Charisma) You have no familial connections and yet you are a Baronet, the Baronet of Erse village. Time to act like one.
-[X] Meeting the Villagers You are the lord of a village, it is wise to learn the names of your people.
-[X] Estate Retainer Someone trustworthy who can look after our estate while we go adventuring.
[X] Network (Charisma) You have no familial connections and yet you are a Baronet, the Baronet of Erse village. Time to act like one.
-[X] Meeting the Villagers You are the lord of a village, it is wise to learn the names of your people.
[X] Network (Charisma) You have no familial connections and yet you are a Baronet, the Baronet of Erse village. Time to act like one.
-[X] Estate Retainer Someone trustworthy who can look after our estate while we go adventuring.
[X] Network (Charisma) You have no familial connections and yet you are a Baronet, the Baronet of Erse village. Time to act like one.
-[X] Meeting the Villagers You are the lord of a village, it is wise to learn the names of your people.
-[X] Estate Retainer Someone trustworthy who can look after our estate while we go adventuring.
[X] Network (Charisma) You have no familial connections and yet you are a Baronet, the Baronet of Erse village. Time to act like one.
-[X] Meeting the Villagers You are the lord of a village, it is wise to learn the names of your people.
DarkKing98
Certified Village Idiot
- Location
- USA
Ok first of all? Our character sheet REALLY needs updates @huhYeahGoodPoint
Secondly, what is reputation for? Doesn't really seem to do much.
And finally, the hell do we need retainers for? Sounds like a waste of actions to me. And damage to our pride.
[X][X] Train (Leadership) If Dad saw you, you know he'd be proud. Still, though, the heavens are vast and the earth is wide. You can't just sit on your laurels and expect the world to reward you for it!
Secondly, what is reputation for? Doesn't really seem to do much.
And finally, the hell do we need retainers for? Sounds like a waste of actions to me. And damage to our pride.
[X][X] Train (Leadership) If Dad saw you, you know he'd be proud. Still, though, the heavens are vast and the earth is wide. You can't just sit on your laurels and expect the world to reward you for it!
DarkKing98
Certified Village Idiot
- Location
- USA
So something our Pride trait wouldn't allow without a blow to our self esteem.
- Location
- Earth
[X] Network (Charisma) You have no familial connections and yet you are a Baronet, the Baronet of Erse village. Time to act like one.
-[X] Estate Retainer Someone trustworthy who can look after our estate while we go adventuring.
[X] Network (Charisma) You have no familial connections and yet you are a Baronet, the Baronet of Erse village. Time to act like one.
-[X] Meeting the Villagers You are the lord of a village, it is wise to learn the names of your people.
-[X] Estate Retainer Someone trustworthy who can look after our estate while we go adventuring.
[X] Network (Charisma) You have no familial connections and yet you are a Baronet, the Baronet of Erse village. Time to act like one.
-[X] Meeting the Villagers You are the lord of a village, it is wise to learn the names of your people.
- Location
- Somewhere over the rainbow
Yeah yeah I'm on it. Character sheet updated.
Reputation does a bunch of stuff in the background, but in that sense it's a lot like equipment; I'm rarely going to outright tell you what they do, but rest assured that it is significant.
That's not the way your Pride works. The way your Pride works is that you value your your own work highly; what you've done is significant, no matter what other people say, but at the same time, you know the value of your own work, and if someone offers to just...void all your hard work that doesn't sit right.
Basically, you want to do something, you should do it yourself; begging for retainers grinds at your pride but recruiting them yourself is something worth celebrating.
Harvest Season II
- Location
- Somewhere over the rainbow
[X] Network (Charisma) You have no familial connections and yet you are a Baronet, the Baronet of Erse village. Time to act like one.
-[X] Estate Retainer Someone trustworthy who can look after our estate while we go adventuring.
[X] Network (Charisma) You have no familial connections and yet you are a Baronet, the Baronet of Erse village. Time to act like one.
-[X] Meeting the Villagers You are the lord of a village, it is wise to learn the names of your people.
Xin Jin
"Going around and actually doing the things I'm supposed to be doing as Baronet, mostly," you shrug easily. "Recruiting retainers, managing the estate, figuring out what I owe to the King, that sort of thing."
Xin Jin nodded.
"You put any thought into what kind of retainers you want?" he asked, looking towards you as though he was leading you into something.
Learning: 70 Opposed: 58 - 15 (Perceptive) = 43
[Perk: The Heart I]
"Yeah, I have put some thought into this: if I was looking for a retainer," you begin, smirking slightly, "I'd be looking for two kinds of people; one to help me run my family farm, someone who was not afraid of working hard and loyally, and another who would not hesitate to travel the whole Middle Kingdom with me or at my request, someone who would be charming and skilled in all things."
Xin Jin blinked. Then his smile widened, eyes gleaming from twin points.
"Well, Han Xiao, I think I might be able to fit your second description, if you'll have me." he said, thrusting out his hand.
[Trait: Proud]
[Perk: The Heart I]
Learning: 70 Opposed: 98 - 15 (Perceptive) = 83
You tried to remember something about Xin Jin that made you a little cautious, but you just couldn't remember it; it was big though. So...
Charisma: 100 Opposed: 1 Critical! Critical Roll: 7
"One question I gotta ask," you said, holding up a finger. "Why swear fealty to me, and not someone more, you know, noble?"
"Well," Xin Jin said, eyes glinting in the fire "a couple reasons. One, I know you, and I don't really know any other nobles. Two, I figured you owe me a favor, since I took you out to see this whole mess. Three, you're a bit of a rising star.
[Trait-Ambition Resonance!]
"Most importantly though," he said, and for a moment you knew that the fire in his eyes was mirrored in yours, "I can see in your eyes that you're not going to stop here, are you? You're going to keep going up and up, and you're going to expect the same from everyone around you. You're going to soar to the very heavens themselves.
"And I want in," he declared.
[] [Xin] Yes
[] [Xin] No
Meeting The Villagers
Background Roll: 64
Your true arrival into the village was much spoken of, and you did not disappoint.
Striding into the bright sunlight, dress seemingly unsullied from a full day's travel, you appeared the very image of a noble descending to the commoners. Whispers flashed through the streets at your confident passage, red hair swaying in the breeze as your silken robes billowed out.
[Trait: Perceptive]
You could tell that most of them were approving, appraising gazes. Just as you needed.
First to come was meeting the headman, Guo Jian. Fitting, as he was the man who had given himself a name for the great feat of raising the walls of Erse village under his watch, but yet never truly attempted to expand beyond Erse village.
It's a funny feeling, you think, as you head towards his office; you would've come through this door to pay taxes, and you might still yet, but in one short summer you have surpassed the man who had forever represented the King and all the authority of heaven.
No matter, you think, as you open the simple, rough-hewn door.
"Greetings, Baronet Han." the man bowed. Solid, yet unassuming, he appeared as though any day he could simply slip out of his well-worn formal robes and into a peasants garb without anyone the wiser. "It is good to see you returning hale from your journey. I'm brought to understand it was...quite exciting," he smiled paternalistically.
[Trait: Proud]
Charisma: 100 Opposed: 99
"I guess you could describe meeting a Royal that way," you shrug. "Then again, that got lost in all the other things that happened."
Guo Jian blinked.
You raise your hand and begin ticking off.
"Well, to start, I met Ou Yan by the roadside, which after beating Nanhu's best fighters like they owed me money, led me into the good graces of Duke Gancai and thus all my nice things, which led to the mess in the capital, where I'm told I earned this Baronethood by ending two coups," you say, finally closing all five fingers, raising only a single eyebrow to look at Guo Jian.
If his jaw was not attached to his cheeks, you're sure it would've clattered to the floor by now.
"So yes, I am Baronet Han Xiao of Erse village. It is a pleasure to meet you, Guo Jian," you bow. "Since you have asked me for my year, might I ask for yours," you cheekily smile.
"Well, uh," he blubbered, "it wasn't anything like yours; just a steady year without anything notable ma'am," he said visibly gulping.
Oh.
It appeared as though he had finally realized you had walked into his office with a sword.
Heh. Well, on to the important matter.
Charisma: 100: Opposed: 10
"That sounds quite relaxing," you softly smile, projecting an aura of harmlessness. Guo Jian sags, tension leaving his frame.
"But, I believe, there is still the important matter," you say, and Guo Jian stands back up at attention.
What's your approach for Guo Jian, the Legacy Builder and mayor of this town?
[] [Guo] Hands-off approach
[] [Guo] Trust but with veto power
[] [Guo] ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL
Estate Retainer
Background Roll: 91 + 10 (Meeting With Villagers Broad Success) = 101 Critical! Critical Roll: 7 + 1 = 8
When you finally put out the call for people to help you run the estate, you find yourself drowned in offers. You can't help but snidely note how many of them are sucking up to you now that you're a Baronet but left your father's funeral sparsely attended; however, what's done is done, and you have to eventually make a decision.
None of them are...all that standout, you must admit. You'd probably do a decent or better job than most, but such is life; the real problem you honestly don't feel that any of them will really put in the work for you.
Critical Interrupt!
Then you spot a familiar face; Wang Chang decided to stop by to check on you, wife in tow. Apparently, first, when he heard about your promotion he had to come over, but eventually you cajoled out of him and his wife that they were looking for better land and was hoping that Erse might have some left over.
[] [Wang] Yes
[] [Wang] No
-[X] Estate Retainer Someone trustworthy who can look after our estate while we go adventuring.
[X] Network (Charisma) You have no familial connections and yet you are a Baronet, the Baronet of Erse village. Time to act like one.
-[X] Meeting the Villagers You are the lord of a village, it is wise to learn the names of your people.
Xin Jin
"Going around and actually doing the things I'm supposed to be doing as Baronet, mostly," you shrug easily. "Recruiting retainers, managing the estate, figuring out what I owe to the King, that sort of thing."
Xin Jin nodded.
"You put any thought into what kind of retainers you want?" he asked, looking towards you as though he was leading you into something.
Learning: 70 Opposed: 58 - 15 (Perceptive) = 43
[Perk: The Heart I]
"Yeah, I have put some thought into this: if I was looking for a retainer," you begin, smirking slightly, "I'd be looking for two kinds of people; one to help me run my family farm, someone who was not afraid of working hard and loyally, and another who would not hesitate to travel the whole Middle Kingdom with me or at my request, someone who would be charming and skilled in all things."
Xin Jin blinked. Then his smile widened, eyes gleaming from twin points.
"Well, Han Xiao, I think I might be able to fit your second description, if you'll have me." he said, thrusting out his hand.
[Trait: Proud]
[Perk: The Heart I]
Learning: 70 Opposed: 98 - 15 (Perceptive) = 83
You tried to remember something about Xin Jin that made you a little cautious, but you just couldn't remember it; it was big though. So...
Charisma: 100 Opposed: 1 Critical! Critical Roll: 7
"One question I gotta ask," you said, holding up a finger. "Why swear fealty to me, and not someone more, you know, noble?"
"Well," Xin Jin said, eyes glinting in the fire "a couple reasons. One, I know you, and I don't really know any other nobles. Two, I figured you owe me a favor, since I took you out to see this whole mess. Three, you're a bit of a rising star.
[Trait-Ambition Resonance!]
"Most importantly though," he said, and for a moment you knew that the fire in his eyes was mirrored in yours, "I can see in your eyes that you're not going to stop here, are you? You're going to keep going up and up, and you're going to expect the same from everyone around you. You're going to soar to the very heavens themselves.
"And I want in," he declared.
[] [Xin] Yes
[] [Xin] No
Meeting The Villagers
Background Roll: 64
Your true arrival into the village was much spoken of, and you did not disappoint.
Striding into the bright sunlight, dress seemingly unsullied from a full day's travel, you appeared the very image of a noble descending to the commoners. Whispers flashed through the streets at your confident passage, red hair swaying in the breeze as your silken robes billowed out.
[Trait: Perceptive]
You could tell that most of them were approving, appraising gazes. Just as you needed.
First to come was meeting the headman, Guo Jian. Fitting, as he was the man who had given himself a name for the great feat of raising the walls of Erse village under his watch, but yet never truly attempted to expand beyond Erse village.
It's a funny feeling, you think, as you head towards his office; you would've come through this door to pay taxes, and you might still yet, but in one short summer you have surpassed the man who had forever represented the King and all the authority of heaven.
No matter, you think, as you open the simple, rough-hewn door.
"Greetings, Baronet Han." the man bowed. Solid, yet unassuming, he appeared as though any day he could simply slip out of his well-worn formal robes and into a peasants garb without anyone the wiser. "It is good to see you returning hale from your journey. I'm brought to understand it was...quite exciting," he smiled paternalistically.
[Trait: Proud]
Charisma: 100 Opposed: 99
"I guess you could describe meeting a Royal that way," you shrug. "Then again, that got lost in all the other things that happened."
Guo Jian blinked.
You raise your hand and begin ticking off.
"Well, to start, I met Ou Yan by the roadside, which after beating Nanhu's best fighters like they owed me money, led me into the good graces of Duke Gancai and thus all my nice things, which led to the mess in the capital, where I'm told I earned this Baronethood by ending two coups," you say, finally closing all five fingers, raising only a single eyebrow to look at Guo Jian.
If his jaw was not attached to his cheeks, you're sure it would've clattered to the floor by now.
"So yes, I am Baronet Han Xiao of Erse village. It is a pleasure to meet you, Guo Jian," you bow. "Since you have asked me for my year, might I ask for yours," you cheekily smile.
"Well, uh," he blubbered, "it wasn't anything like yours; just a steady year without anything notable ma'am," he said visibly gulping.
Oh.
It appeared as though he had finally realized you had walked into his office with a sword.
Heh. Well, on to the important matter.
Charisma: 100: Opposed: 10
"That sounds quite relaxing," you softly smile, projecting an aura of harmlessness. Guo Jian sags, tension leaving his frame.
"But, I believe, there is still the important matter," you say, and Guo Jian stands back up at attention.
What's your approach for Guo Jian, the Legacy Builder and mayor of this town?
[] [Guo] Hands-off approach
[] [Guo] Trust but with veto power
[] [Guo] ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL
Estate Retainer
Background Roll: 91 + 10 (Meeting With Villagers Broad Success) = 101 Critical! Critical Roll: 7 + 1 = 8
When you finally put out the call for people to help you run the estate, you find yourself drowned in offers. You can't help but snidely note how many of them are sucking up to you now that you're a Baronet but left your father's funeral sparsely attended; however, what's done is done, and you have to eventually make a decision.
None of them are...all that standout, you must admit. You'd probably do a decent or better job than most, but such is life; the real problem you honestly don't feel that any of them will really put in the work for you.
Critical Interrupt!
Then you spot a familiar face; Wang Chang decided to stop by to check on you, wife in tow. Apparently, first, when he heard about your promotion he had to come over, but eventually you cajoled out of him and his wife that they were looking for better land and was hoping that Erse might have some left over.
[] [Wang] Yes
[] [Wang] No