A Shitty Shonen Quest

hYGP · Dec 13, 2018

[X] [Lei] Rescue
[X] [Mao] Cells
[X] [Qiu] Cells
[X] [Xiao] Cells

[X][Self] Gear up

Background: Due to critical failure, Ou Zhi's faction only has 300 men to Ou Di's thousand. Ou Tie himself somehow still has 150 men or so. The palace itself has about 250 men left over, as of yet unaffiliated. You'll have to make Leadership checks to get them to follow you.

Ou Zhi's faction leaders, guaranteed:
~~Dong Gancai~~ Forced off by Shattered Vessel IV
Wei Yahui
Ou Zhi
You and your squad

Mobilization roll: 17 - 10 (Gaze Of Heaven) = 7
Base quality: 80
Standard deviation: 10
Current quality: 68

Discipline roll: Negated by Ways of Contending II
Wei Yahui might not quite be Dong Gancai, but he can sure as hell put up a good impression.

Ou Di's faction leaders, guaranteed:
Ou Di
Ou Quan
Mobilization roll: 58 + 10 (Gaze of Heaven) = 68

Sufficiently high roll to mobilize Limit Shattered.
Mobilized Chen Yang

Chen Yang
陈阳

Stats
Leadership: 200
Martial: 100
Charisma: 200
Piety: 100
Learning: 100

Traits:
Noble: Bonus to Charisma, bonus to background rolls
Sloth: Bonus to Learning
Perceptive: Bonus to Learning checks, effective bonus to background rolls

Perks:
Master of All: You who know all arts and skills can easily understand how one becomes another. Allows for checks between multiple Maxed Stats!

Base quality: 50
Standard deviation: 25
Current quality: 75

Discipline roll: 35
10 percent of Ou Di's forces break off and do whatever the hell they feel like

Ou Tie's faction leaders, guaranteed:
Ou Tie
Mobilization roll: 21 - 10 (Gaze of Heaven) = 11

Base quality: 40
Standard deviation: 15
Current quality: 20

Discipline roll: 49
They'll mostly follow Ou Tie's orders. Mostly.

Wei Yahui commits all his forces to the Rescue because lmao of course he does.

Ou Di's faction is split: immediately 100 of his men wander off to "pillage" the palace, and he has to split the remaining 900. He detaches Ou Quan with 150 men to go retake the cells, and gets 750 to go with him and kill the king.

100 of the palace detachment is guarding the cells.

100 is scattered throughout the periphery.

30 want the hell out and have already left.

20 are guarding the Royal Harem.

Background Roll: 1 - 10 (Gaze of Heaven) = -9 Critical Failure! Critical Failure Roll: 50 - 9 (Critical Failure) - 10 (Gaze of Heaven) = 31
Theater: ~~The Cells~~ Royal Harem

BACKGROUND CRITICAL FAILURE INTERRUPT

"Zhang Lei, get to the central plaza and aid Ou Zhi! Li Mao, Li Qiu, follow me!" you shout, sprinting for the gate.

Hopped up on adrenaline, they can only nod along and match your pace as the other members of the Harem run and scream in fear.

However, your plan is destroyed almost the moment you step out of the Royal Harem.

Before you stands a hundred men, weapons bared and heading towards the Royal Harem.

The other group slows down and stops, as one steps out of the crowd. Your group of four keeps running.

"Now, now ladies, drop your weapons and we'll show you a good time, eh?" he says.

Charisma+Leadership Check: Don't make me laugh

[Trait: Proud]

"Yield or die!" you bark, still running forward without slowing down even slightly.

"What's that?" he snarled. "You asking for it, bit-"

Martial: 200 Opposed: 1

A spear suddenly embeds itself in his throat, as Li Mao suddenly accelerates to the front of the group.

The rest of them blink.

Combined Martial Check: 200 + 110 = 310 Opposed: Nullified by [Stunned] Status!

You and Li Mao carve a path through the stunned enemies, red trailing the edges of your blades as though you were dancing a ribbon dance instead of slaughtering men with every stroke.

Out of the corner of your eye, you can't help but notice that Zhang Lei and Li Qiu are still in their sleepwear; Zhang Lei herself only has her bow.

Well, no matter, you thought, fixing your eyes forward. You had a destination to get to.

Combined Martial Check: 310 Opposed: (75 - 65) * 30 = 300

Each strike felled a man, and yet you could not help but notice that the disorganized band of men was beginning to coalesce and begin attacking you in earnest, small scratches accumulating on your Heavy Leathers a bit at a time.

And yet.

The two of you advance forward atop the road of the dead you tread underfoot.

Combined Martial Check: 310 Opposed: 0 Combined Martial! Rout Triggered!

Suddenly, all at once your enemies break, running away from you. Try as you might, your sword nor Li Mao's spear can reach them in time; you will have to content yourself with them disappearing into the palace, fighting wills totally broken.

Martial: 200 Opposed: 90

Martial: 79 Opposed: 79

The two behind you, although grim-faced, pick up weapons and advance with you.

Background Roll: 17 - 10 (Gaze of Heaven) - 10 (Delaying Critical Failure) = -7 Critical Failure! Critical Failure Roll: 61 - 7 (Critical Failure) + 10 (Gaze of Heaven)
Theater: The Cells

You're too late to stop them, you notice. The two murdered guards at the gate attest to that much. As do the dozens of enemy soldiers milling about the entrance.

However, if they haven't moved out, there's a chance you could cut straight in.

Li Qiu SL: 3 Needed: 5

Li Qiu Alignment: Cleared

"Han Xiao, there's another way into the cells," Li Qiu urgently says. "It goes through the sewer grates right there," she pointed out. "We might be able to beat them to Ou Di, but we also might not; if we don't get there before them, we'll be killed; if we get there before them, we might have a chance."

"We could also just cut our way in," Li Mao suggests, tensing up as if to pounce.

Sewer Run?
[] Yes, go into the Sewers (Possibility of gaining Massively Advantageous position, possibility of gaining Massively Disadvantageous position)
[] No, cut our way through

hYGP · Dec 17, 2018

[X] Yes, go into the Sewers (Possibility of gaining Massively Advantageous position, possibility of gaining Massively Disadvantageous position)
Background Roll: 86 + 10 (Gaze Of Heaven) = 96 [

Nothing to it then.

Martial: 110 Opposed: 101

With a few hacks, the grate gives with a mighty kick.

Li Mao jumps in immediately, Li Qiu following soon after.

You breathe out. Breathe in the horrifyingly putrefying smell.

You jump in.

The space is barely enough to crawl through, and by the time Li Qiu finally signals you to get out, you quietly swear to burn your Leathers and buy yourself a better set of armor.

[Trait: Proud]

If you were alive to see the end of this, you certainly would've deserved it.

A few hacks and cuts with Li Mao's spear, and all of you come tumbling out of a hallway.

"Perfect," Li Qiu whispers, evidently uncaring that her red hair is streaked black with brown sludge.

You suppose it's not an unfamiliar feeling to you too, as you ignore the dripping sounds the stuff makes from your head.

"How so?" you venture to ask Li Qiu.

"The enemies have to come through here to get to the cell. There's no way around this tight corridor, which means if we stand there..." Li Qiu points, the area a stone tunnel between cells.

"...We'll slaughter them." Li Mao nodded.

You nod in acquiescence.

[Trait: Proud]

Then you start thinking about how to get the gunk out of your damn hair; you put effort into having nice hair, and if you had a chance to deal with it, you were going to help clean it out!

Learning: 70 Opposed: 82 - 15 (Perceptive) = 67

...

The cell bars would do, you supposed.

So you waited. One hand on your sword, the other rhythmically scraping off goo from your hair on the iron bars.

You didn't have to wait long.

"Ah. I was hoping there wouldn't be anyone in our way," the lead man said. "Please move aside so that we can rescue our lord from a crime he didn't commit," the man says, bowing his head.

Charisma Check: this happened not six hours ago, he's not that convincing

You scoff.

"Please. Don't you tell me what did and did not happen to me," you say, bringing yourself to a full guard stance a step behind Li Mao.

The lead man stops. Considers for a moment.

Then he sighs.

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry about this."

Li Qiu Interrupt!

"Wait! Lin Yan, famed retainer of Ou Di, let us state our case, under the threat of death!" she said, smoothly sliding around Li Mao and dropping her sword.
So As To The Weak Trigger!
[Trait: Proud]

"Wait - "

Li Qiu glares at you to shut up and let her handle this.

"Are you sure?" Lin Yan says, bringing the swordpoint to Li Qiu's neck, just a hairsbreadth from bursting into and through her throat.
Opposing Trait: Just Trigger!
Li Qiu does not back down.

"Yes," she softly says.

Lin Yan nods.

"Than under what charges was my master jailed?" he asked.

"Infiltrating the Royal Harem with the intent to defile a candidate," Li Qiu said, unwavering voice leaving no room for doubt.

That did not prevent Lin Yan from trying, regardless.

"And who and where seized him?" Lin Yan asked.

"Han Xiao, wielding a sword behind me. It was her that Ou Di attempted to ravage in the dead of night, and it was her that apprehended him," Li Qiu enunciated.

Lin Yan turned to look at you, sword still pointed at Lei Qi's throat.
Patterns of Smoke I Trigger!
Then, he sighed, and sheathed his sword.

"What you say makes an unfortunate amount of sense, and I must deeply apologize to you in particular, Han Xiao, for failing to notice that my master had become much more unhinged, recently," he said, bowing.

"Men, for tonight, we shall turn around. There are more important things that we must be doing than bailing Master out of the consequences of his own actions," he said, wheeling around.

Lin Yan
林烟

Stats:
Leadership: 92
Martial: 200
Charisma: 91
Piety: 79
Learning: 98

Traits:
Loyal: Bonus to SL-gain, bonus to background rolls
Just: Bonus to background rolls, bonus to Learning rolls
Sloth: Bonus to Learning

Perks:
The Favor Of Heaven: Things just seem to go…right for you. Lowered Background Checks, Increased Background Rolls
Unlimited: You can just seem to grasp things…a little beyond your limits. Increased Limits By Twenty! +9 to Shattering The Limit
Patterns of Smoke I: By observing the smoke from a fire, you can predict what the fire looked like. Unfortunately, this skill indicates being next to a number of fires. Big fires. Significant Bonus to Learning

You eye his retreating back.

[] [Lin] Let him go.
[] [Lin] Persuade him to follow you to the Rescue mission. (LOCKS THEATER CHOICE AS RESCUE) (SUCCESS NOT GUARANTEED)
[] [Lin] Cut him and his men down, while their backs are turned.

Due to Allied Intervention, Opponent Critical Roll, and Trait Resonance, the Cells have been cleared as a Theater!

The remaining theaters are:

Royal Harem
Rescue
Periphery

Assign each temporary retainer to a Theater.
[] [Mao]
[] [Qi]
[] [Xiao]

I fucked up the names; Li Qiu was named as Lei Qi for a bit, starting here.

hYGP · Dec 20, 2018

[X] [Lin] Persuade him to follow you to the Rescue mission. (LOCKS THEATER CHOICE AS RESCUE) (SUCCESS NOT GUARANTEED)
[X] [Mao] Rescue
[X] [Qi] Rescue
[X] [Xiao] Rescue

Background:

New Faction created: Lin Yan Faction, affiliation leaning Ou Di but as of yet broken off. Will effectively strip Ou Quan of all his power when he surfaces, taking 100 men with him.

Faction Strengths:

Ou Zhi's faction, field led by Wei Yahui

300 strong, Wei Yahui and Ou Zhi included.
Wei Yahui Leadership rolls:
68 + 10 (Gaze of Heaven) + 5 (Gap in Leadership) = 83
48 - 10 (Gaze of Heaven) + 5 (Gap in Leadership) = 42
29 - 10 (Gaze of Heaven) + 5 (Gap in Leadership) = 24
9 - 10 (Gaze of Heaven) + 5 (Gap in Leadership) = 4
61 + 10 (Gaze of Heaven) + 5 (Gap in Leadership) = 76

Ou Di's faction, field led by Chen Yang

750 strong, Chen Yang only for now.
Chen Yang's Leadership rolls:
30 - 10 (Gaze of Heaven) - 5 (Gap in Leadership) = 15
27 - 10 (Gaze of Heaven) - 5 (Gap in Leadership) = 12
18 - 10 (Gaze of Heaven) - 5 (Gap in Leadership) = 3
96 + 10 (Gaze of Heaven) - 5 (Gap in Leadership) = 101 Critical Success! Critical Roll: 29 + 1 + 10 (Gaze of Heaven) = 39 Gap of One Hundred!
10 - 10 (Gaze of Heaven) - 5 (Gap in Leadership) = -5 Critical Failure! Critical Failure Roll: 85 - 10 (Gaze of Heaven) - 5 = 70 Gap of One Hundred!

150 strong, Ou Tie led
Ou Tie's Leadership rolls:
25 - 10 (Gaze of Heaven) - 10 (Ludicrously Outclassed) = 5
37 - 10 (Gaze of Heaven) - 10 (Ludicrously Outclassed) = 17
74 + 10 (Gaze of Heaven) - 15 (Unbelievably Outclassed) = 74
54 + 10 (Gaze of Heaven) - 15 (Unbelievably Outclassed) = 29
91 + 10 (Gaze of Heaven) - 20 (Hopelessly Outclassed) = 81

So...

Round 1:
Wei Yahui takes his 300 men in a spear formation, and rams it straight into Chen Yang's still gathering forces.

Chen Yang's forces are crushed underfoot. -150 men.

Ou Tie, on the other hand, is literally caught with his pants down; his men are killed pretty bad, but the group sent after the King seems more interested in loot than his head. - 70 men.

Round 2:
Wei Yahui's progess slows down, he takes some casualties, but he's still pressing forward and he's not really losing all that much steam. - 10 men.

Chen Yang's forces are scrambling to reorganize and mostly failing to do so. -100 men.

Ou Tie's forces, however, seem to have found some small equilibrium with the looters as they run around like they've already lost their heads. - 20 men.

Round 3:
Wei Yahui is taking noticeable casualties and the charge is mired down, but there's still a good shot here for him. - 30 men.

Chen Yang's forces nearly blow it right here, almost routing before Chen Yang can pull them together. - 150 men.

Ou Tie's forces start pulling the shitshow together, but they don't have a lot of men left. - 10 men.

Round 4:

Wei Yahui's charge comes to a stop, just as they penetrate far enough for Chen Yang's forces to envelop them. - 100 men.

Chen Yang suddenly gets his men together just as Wei Yahui has managed to surround himself with Chen Yang's forces.

Ou Tie's forces just about collapse in the face of Chen Yang's forces new organization. - 30 men. Things look hopeless.

Round 5:

Wei Yahui kicks his squads ass into high gear. Somehow, from a standing start, the charge starts back up again, and Chen Yang's forces all trip in their haste to get the hell away.

Something goes really wrong for Chen Yang; its probably most of his line commanders keeling over with a fatal case of iron consumption, courtesy of Zhang Lei. Regardless, morale breaks, and fast; - 200 men, not all casualties as many ran away.

Facing an impossible situation, with Heaven themselves as the witness, two in Ou Tie's remaining retinue Shatter The Limit, reaching a 130 and 200 Martial respectively. This desperate action repulses Chen Yang's forces, and so they take no casualties.

Final force count:

Wei Yahui, 160 men.
Chen Yang, 200 men.
Ou Tie, 30 men. Two Limit Shatters.

This is the situation the reinforcements arrive on the scene with.

Wei Yahui Reinforcements: 1 - 10 (Gaze of Heaven) = - 9 Critical Failure! Critical Failure Roll: 80 - 10 (Gaze of Heaven) - 9 = 61
Chen Yang Reinforcements: 93 + 10 (Gaze of Heaven) + 103 Critical Success! Critical Success Roll: 29 + 10 (Gaze of Heaven) + 3 = 42.
Ou Tie Reinforcements: 53 + 10 (Gaze of Heaven) = 63

...

Dong Gancai, ignoring literally everybody who told him "what the fuck it's fuck o clock outside you're fucking so heavily wounded you can barely move without coughing up blood" came to help Wei Yahui. Unfortunately, his guard slipped for just a moment as he hacked up some blood - and then Liu Xian comes up and offs him.

Liu Xian
刘险

Stats
Leadership: 200
Martial: 300
Charisma: 100
Piety: 15
Learning: 100
Potential: 86
Traits:
Greedy: Bonus to Leadership Checks
Vicious: Bonus to Martial Checks
Talented: +10 to training rolls

Perks:
Ways of Contending I: Your eyes and hands, capable of many skills, see how one solution solves many others. Unlocks combined Checks between Maxed Stats.
The Winner The Spoilers: You are victorious. That means that all within your sight is yours by right. Increased Leadership Checks when victorious.

Liu Xian and Wei Yahui yell at each other a bit, and now...

[BERSERKER RAGE ACTIVATE]

Yeah, Dong Gancai's forces really didn't take Dong Gancai getting offed all that well...or at all really.

Individual forces gain +50 to attack but take damage like they were -25 to attack.

Wei Yahui gains 100 men. All 240 are [BERSERKER RAGED]. Even Wei Yahui. Zhang Lei is excepted, but even she's not unaffected.

Chen Yang gains 500 men and Liu Xian joins forces, taking the lead against Wei Yahui; Chen Yang himself goes after Ou Tie. The force splits up: Liu Xian's 500 put up against Wei Yahui, while Chen Yang's 200 goes after Ou Tie.

Ou Tie recruits a few men from the guard, putting his forces up to 50.

Then you arrive.

"Wait, Lin Yan!" you say. "You are also headed to the aid of Ou Tie the king, are you not?"

[Opposing Trait: Just]

"Of course I am going to the aid of Ou Tie," Lin Yan said. "All we will have to do is put down Ou Zhi's rebellion, yes?"

Charisma: 100 Opposed: 93
Learning: 98 Opposed: 119 Natural Critical Failure! Critical Failure Roll: 12 = 147 - 15 (Just) - 10 (Loyal) - 20 (Circumstance) - 30 (Patterns of Smoke I) = 92
"If you trust us, Lin Yan, can you be certain of that?" you said.

He looked back. His eyes unfocused, staring into a horizon that the dark hallway did not provide, mind awhirl.

Then he snapped back.

"No, I can't be certain of that, you're right. Even if it appears that Ou Zhi has all the reason in the world to want to do this, I also thought that Ou Di would not have done such a foolish thing, and the time and the people awake are all wrong," he muttered, hand to his chin.

Leadership: 72 Opposed: 66

"Either way, any longer we spend down here and not up there is wasted time," you hurriedly impress, loudly sheathing your own sword and striding forward.

He's briefly taken aback, and now Li Qiu and Li Mao look at you askance.

"We have to move, everyone. Every single breath we waste theorizing down here is another breath that the King could've received aid in," you said.

Lin Yan's eyebrows shoot up, but acknowledging the wisdom of your words, hurries out.

Your group isn't far behind, but Li Mao's spear never returns to a safe position.

When you exit, Lin Yan suddenly comes to a halt, along with most of his men.

He takes a single moment to take in the flaming palace.

"Loyal retainers of Ou Tie, we must head to the defence of the palace!" he cries, he and his forces suddenly marching just on the edge of physically running.

"Halt!" cries a thoroughly unlikeable man.

"What's the meaning of this, Lin Yan?! Why have you returned, without Ou Di?!" the soft voice demands, issuing from a thricefolded chin.

"The meaning of this is that it is entirely believable that Master has committed a serious offense and thus should not be immediately bailed out of punishment, not until we rescue the King," Lin Yan patiently explained, apologetically half-smiling back at you for a single instant but without the glint vanishing for a moment.

"'Entirely believable?!' Do you hear yourself, Lin Yan? You might be useful, but when he gets out he's going to kill you for this insolence for sure, if not him, Ou Tie! And then I'll be the one...heheheh," he drifted off.

Lin Yan nearly slaps himself in the face before he suddenly narrows his eyes.

"Ou Quan, you don't understand the gravity of our situation. Ou Tie right now is under threat, or possibly under threat, the palace is literally burning behind you, and you think that there is time to bail Master out of a sentence he rightly deserves, if not now, earlier?" Lin Yan frustratedly said.

"That sounds like treason, and disrespect for your betters, Lin Yan," Ou Quan says, trying to hold up your forces.

You glance back at Li Mao and Li Qiu. In each other's eyes, you all come to an immediate consensus.

"We don't have time for this," you say, running towards the fire. The padding footsteps of Li Mao and clip clop of Li Qiu follow your own sharp strikes against the ground.

Out of the corner of your ears, the shouted argument continues, until another roil of thunder rumbles.

Just on your heels, Lin Yan appears to have convinced the rest of the force deployed with him on your heels, leaving a ranting Ou Quan behind.

Roars rend the air, the sound of muted steel on steel and steel on flesh and their screams and the fury of warriors possessed competing for space with the hellscape of acrid smoke and wafts of entrails.

The battlefield is a disaster, from your vantage of the courtyard.

Wei Yahui's forces penetrated through the central gate, but have been surrounded just a few feet short of the stairs to the Royal Palace. They fight atop a bulwark of dead and dying men, blood slicking the floor and body parts littering the floor. Each soldier takes a dozen fatal wounds to inflict one hundred and twenty upon their foes. Wei Yahui himself is a maelstrom of death, none able to even dream of matching him but nevertheless finding themselves in his way regardless.

Even Zhang Lei is firing arrows at officers with reckless abandon; she can't have more than a few arrows left at the rate that she fires them, and yet her bow is drawn and lethal arrows find their mark.

On the stairs opposite the gate, the King's men put up one last desperate stand, a man and a woman holding the top of the twin dragon stairs, a river of red and bodies caking the ground before them as dozens, a hundred at least seek to climb the path.

Two men from the other camp stick out to you.

A stark, greying man heads up the slope to the King's approach, supremely confident as only one with a plan could be.

A brown haired man sadistically smiling and carving a little ways into Wei Yahui's forces before blending back and refusing to engage Wei Yahui on his own terms.

Vote Decision Overridden By Trait: Perceptive and Allied Perk: Patterns of Smoke I!

"We have to attack there, between the force charging the stairs and the foot of the stairs," both you and Lin Yan yell at each other, turning towards each other at the same moment.

Both of you nod.

Then your footsteps add to the deafening chaos, and you carve your way there.

Martial: 110 Opposed: 37

None of the men in your way expect your sudden attack, your vanguard and force penetrating directly to the base of the steps. Each slash finds a neck, each thrust finds a heart, each pommel finds a skull.

[Trait: Talented]

Once there, you pivot as one, as though you were slashing with a river of men through your enemies.

The brown-haired man and confident man both stop and take notice of your force as it carves through the enemies. Both come in your direction, as you rush to meet the

[Trait: Proud]

You were not afraid of them.

[Trait: Perceptive]

Because Wei Yahui, even in the midst of a red-eyed rage, had noticed this on some fundamental level too. His forces suddenly felt the close grasp of victory at hand.

"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅!!!" Wei Yahui wordlessly bellowed.

His forces suddenly leapt forward toward you, as though shot from an arrow. Men in front of them collapsed and ran like grain before the scythe, as the enemies behind them suddenly found themselves slicing through dust and dead bodies.

Suddenly, a pained cry causes your heads to turn just as a bare few men stand between you and the advancing hurricane of steel.

Both of defenders of the steps appear to have been overwhelmed, but the force charging up has been significantly diminished too.

Ou Tie is only a few moments away from death.

Heartbeats.

One.

Your group pivots, turning around in a single footstep and charging at the stairs.

Wei Yahui's forces catch up, and subsume you into the roaring, charging, bloodspecked masses.

They meet the brown-haired man first. Wei Yahui takes a particular vindictive joy in taking his head, wet cracking noise sounding from behind you as you leave Wei Yahui and the dead body he dueled behind.

As you charge up the steps, the remaining enemies begin to turn around and run for the King. The blood running down each step threatens to unbalance you, but the momentum of you and the men you charge with rockets you up the stairs. The blood spattered by the desperate press of men running from your blade and the bodies deposited by those you reach flow to the side and the middle of the stairs, stone dragons consuming the blood and feasting upon the corpses of the King's enemies.

The surge of men swelling up the stairs seem to get in each others way, scattering more than presenting a threat to the King as he and his loyal retainers begin climbing the final set of stairs to the Royal Seat, guarding against and losing men for every step taken.

In a lull of a heartbeat, as you push the body of a dead enemy off your sword at the center of the courtyard at the steps of the Royal Seat, you take in the height, and the smoke, and the fire of the palace burning around you.

In any other time, you would've been impressed, reverent to come so close to the Royal Seat.

Now?

Now you had a hundred steps to go.

You launch off again, breath short, sweat coated, and blood rushing, the tatters of your Heavy Leathers barely providing any protection as the night air reaches your skin.

The pounding footsteps of the men behind and around you share much the same emotion. In front of you, Wei Yahui and Lin Yan take off like twinned dragons, while you stay just behind Li Mao and Ou Zhi advancing to your right, while Lei Qi lags only a step behind Li Mao.

Han Xiao - 67 + 10 (Gaze of Heaven) = 77
Li Mao - 73 + 10 (Gaze of Heaven) = 83
Li Qiu - 63 + 10 (Gaze of Heaven) = 73
Zhang Lei - 12 - 10 (Gaze of Heaven) = 2
Wei Yahui - 98 + 10 (Gaze of Heaven) = 108 Critical Roll! 12 + 8 + 10 (Gaze of Heaven) = 130
Ou Zhi - 72 + 10 (Gaze of Heaven) = 82
Lin Yan - 96 + 10 (Gaze of Heaven) = 106 Critical Roll! 26 + 10 (Gaze of Heaven) + 6 = 132
Chen Yang - 9 - 10 (Gaze of Heaven) = -1 Critical Failure! 72 - 10 (Gaze of Heaven) - 1 = - 37
Ou Tie - 80 + 10 (Gaze of Heaven) = 90

Your target, though, is Ou Tie, and for a single shining moment, atop the steps to the Royal Seat, he and the last of his retinue stand firm. The last dregs of Chen Yang's men throw themselves upon his sword, and they hold steady. Chen Yang himself slips just before his men engage, and by the time he regains his footing and his bearings he realizes he has no men behind him and no men in front of him.

Zhang Lei - 98 + 10 (Gaze of Heaven) = 108 Critical! Critical Roll: 75 + 10 (Gaze of Heaven) + 8 = 93
Wei Yahui - 1 - 10 (Gaze of Heaven) = -9 Natural Critical Failure! Critical Failure Roll: 28 - 10 (Gaze of Heaven) - 9 = - 91
Chen Yang - 57 + 10 (Gaze of Heaven) = 67
Ou Tie - 95 + 10 (Gaze of Heaven) = 105 Critical! Critical Roll: 58 + 10 (Gaze of Heaven) = 68

Then many things happen at once.

Chen Yang decides that if nothing else, he will take Ou Tie with him, and lunges for him.

Zhang Lei decides that she will do the impossible, and fires a broken spearhead from her bow.

Wei Yahui throws his sword.

Ou Tie leaps backwards.

The spearhead finds Chen Yang and pierces his neck in a single shot, jerking his body well away.

Wei Yahui's sword was misthrown, and carves through Ou Tie's long flowing robes and halts in Chen Yang's ribcage, further preventing his corpse from killing Ou Tie.

The first thud is Ou Tie's body hitting the ground.

The second clang is Chen Yang's sword falling from his nerveless grip.

The third thud is Chen Yang's lifeless body hitting the floor.

The last thud is your exhausted body hitting the ground and staring up at the night sky.

There's a boundless starry universe up there in Heaven, isn't there, Dad?

Quest [The Longest Night] Complete!

Special Event [Capital Clusterfuck] Complete!

What was most important to succeed this event?

[] Luck
[] Charm
[] Faith
[] Firmness
[] Keenness
[] Strength

hYGP · Dec 22, 2018

"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.

hYGP · Dec 23, 2018

[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

hYGP · Dec 28, 2018

[X] [Xin] Yes
[X] [Guo] Trust but with veto power
[X] [Wang] Yes

Xin Jin

You grin and clap your hand in his.

"Then to the wide heavens, Xin Jin," you say.

Xin Jin Recruited as Retainer! Four Xin Jin Retainer Actions available!

+2 SL!

[Trait: Charming]

[Trait: Genius]

"Hey, boss-lady, I know you're gonna be kinda busy and need to think about a bunch of things, so I came up with my own plan for the Harvest Season:

Network: Merchants
Travel: Dongyun Region
Marketplace: Dongyun Region
Training: Leadership

Accept Xin Jin's plan? He'll be back by Winter Season.

[] [Xin] Yes
[] [Xin] No, you'll do:
-[] Vote in your changes

Guo Jian

[Trait Resonance: Pride]

Charisma: 100 Opposed: 1

You can see the tension build up in Guo Jian's face, the thought of a man who spent his whole life creating a work he could be proud of vanishing upon your whims.

[Perk: The Heart I]

You internally chuckle, and Guo Jian's face pales even more, mouth opening to plead for some miniscule amount of clemency.

You raise your hand, smirking all the while.

"I get it, Guo Jian. This town, these walls, they're your life's work, aren't they?" you say, gesturing to the windows.

Hesitantly, unbelievingly, he nodded, jaw quivering.

"You earned this spot by yourself, didn't you?" you ask without asking, light from your deepest self shining out of your eyes.

He nods again, hands stilling.

"Heh. I wouldn't stand for someone taking away my pride and joy, so I won't do the same to you," you say. "All I want," you hold up a finger to Guo Jian's gobsmacked face, "is to be told what you're planning, and to be able to say no."

"Lady Han is too generous," he said, tears in his eyes.

You wave your hand.

"Please, Headman Guo Jian. Such an expression is unbefitting a proud man with work to do," you smirk, eyes closed.

His hand brushed away the tear in his right eye.

"Understood," he smiled, a single tear running down his cheek.

"Then to a bright future," you said, offering your hand as Xin Jin did to you.

"To a bright future," he shook.

As you exit, you suddenly realize that you copied Wei Yahui. If you could, you'd punch a wall, but you'll have to settle for squinting your eyes off into the distance.

Whatever. You had other families to meet.

Charisma: 100 Opposed: 40

The Lais welcome you in; you really shouldn't be surprised, considering they were always helping out around the village, but it's still nice, and they seem to appreciate you showing up to pay your respects. Still, you liked them for showing up to your father's funeral, and it's nice knowing you can count on your support.

Charisma: 100 Opposed: 93

Your visit to the Liang is much more awkward. Even if intellectually you knew that you needed to get them on your side because they were the builders of the village, you still didn't like them much for not sending anyone to visit your father's funeral.

It's enough for you to sigh a breath of relief that you didn't let it show.

Still, you should probably put your building requests through Guo Jian rather than asking the Liang directly.

Charisma: 100 Opposed: 86

Meeting the Liang out of the way helped with hiding your displeasure from the Feng, you were all smiles outside as you internally disdained them. They've offered to run some of your deliveries out of town, and you thanked them for the offer, but Xin Jin's probably the way you'll actually send anything important out of the town.

Charisma: 100 Opposed: 1

Xu Hui personally welcomes you into the Xu, and that's how you find yourself whiling away much of the evening feasting with the rest of the Xu. By the time you leave, the whole family tells you that they'd be willing to help you, whatever you choose to do. That helped.

Charisma: 100 Opposed: 75

That said, the Yuan took more than slight offense to being woken just as they were all about to sleep, but somehow you don't think they minded all that much since your arrival also gave them the chance to look at noble, silken clothing from the Capital.

Wang Chang

So when you arrive home late at night, you could be forgiven for not noticing all the crops had been harvested.

When you do notice the piles of grain stacked up in the shed with Wang Chang hauling the last batch in, you take a breath in.

Martial: 110 Opposed: 82

You loudly breathe out.

Wang Chang jerks toward you, surprised at your presence.

"Ah, Han Xiao, you're home. I've, uh, taken the liberty of harvesting your crops for you." he says, lamely.

[Trait: Proud]

You raise your eyebrow.

"I'm not invalid, Wang Chang," you say. "You didn't have to do this."

"I didn't offer my services to do nothing," Wang said. "You've offered your home and your land to me, and it wouldn't be right for me to just do nothing, even if you could do it."

[Trait Resonance: Proud and Hard Worker]

You sit and think about it, face scrunched up. You could understand the feeling. You couldn't abide anyone doing anything for you without trying to repay them in some way, and from his position you had just given him a huge boon without even thinking twice. You would feel like the worst scum if you didn't try to do something, and the easiest thing to do was to take care of the harvest.

You breathe out explosively.

"Fine. Fine. I get it," you huff. "A part of me thinks you're treating me like I'm still injured, like I can't do this harvest by myself, but I get it. I did you a favor and you feel like you have to repay me. I'm also gonna need to get dragged away from this village later, so then I'm going to need to let you do things for me, and this is just moving up the date."

Wang nodded slowly. "If that's all, can I put down this grain?"

You wave him off. "Sure, you say," and turn to your room.

You're not particularly happy about Wang Chang harvesting and selling your crops, but you can understand, and that's enough. For understanding, and for accepting his offer, +3 SL

Background Roll: 5
You looked up at your roof from your hardboard bed. Somehow, even knowing what true decadence felt like, you still preferred your own bed just that little bit more.

Then your eyes snap open. You had nearly forgotten about your promise to write!

Due to Wang Chang's Actions, two Actions have been freed up! For this section, vote by plan.

Estate Stats:
Money: 6215
Reputation: 1225
Retainers: Xin Jin, Wang Chang
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 You've put out the call in your village, and you're...satisfied with having Xin Jin and Wang Chang on retainer, but perhaps there might be better out in the surrounding villages?
-[] Capital Correspondence You did promise Li Qiu, Li Mao, and Zhang Lei that you'd write. You should follow through on that.
-[] Guo Jian You left this man in charge of Erse village. You should check up on him.
-[] Wang Chang He's the man you're going to trust to manage you and your father's farm; you should make sure your relationship is strong.
[] 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!
[] SPECIAL ACTION: Visiting Dad (Piety) It's been a long while, but you can visit Dad again...or at least his grave.

Special note: I left this quest alone for five days, which I think merits an apology, especially because I intended to update daily.

So! In light of a QM screwup, you get another vote:

[] [QM] 3 OOC questions
[] [QM] Equipment stats
[] [QM] Ou Family Interlude

hYGP · Dec 31, 2018

[X] [Xin] Yes
[X][Action] Plan Obligations met
-[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] Capital Correspondence You did promise Li Qiu, Li Mao, and Zhang Lei that you'd write. You should follow through on that.
-[X] SPECIAL ACTION: Visiting Dad (Piety) It's been a long while, but you can visit Dad again...or at least his grave.

Tie on QM apology; vote will remain open.

Xin Jin

You consider the plan for a few moments.

"Yeah, sounds good."

"Just like that?" Xin Jin blinked.

"If I didn't trust you to know what you were doing, why would I recruit you?" you shrugged. "Anyway, for the market over there, take...

[] [Xin] 500 Money
[] [Xin] 3000 Money
[] [Xin] 6000 Money

Capital Correspondence
Background Roll: 85
A promise was a promise, although you weren't quite sure what to put into your letters; not much of import had happened, after all. There was only meeting the headman, the various families, recruiting friends who they didn't know...okay maybe there was something to this after all.

For Zhang Lei, relating the meetings with the villagers would be best, Li Mao might appreciate a description of Xin Jin , and Li Qiu...you weren't sure, so talking about the village was probably a safe option.

Ou Zhi and Yan...were a trickier topic, since you had formally retracted the marriage contract. You remembered Ou Zhi's slight display of disappointment before Ou Yan's 'subtle' reminder of court etiquette, so writing again so soon might be more than slightly awkward.

[] [Ou] Write to Zhi and Yan?
[] [Ou] Let the distance grow temporarily

Nodding, you finished the final strokes.

Then you realized two things.

One, both of your legs were asleep.

Two, the dusk had mostly fallen.

This was going to be slightly awkward to negotiate.

Slight SL-gain with SL members of the Royal Harem!

Dad
Background Roll: 16
When you finally got around to visiting Dad, clouds roiled overhead as the air pressed down on you from all sides.

Most of the other villagers had elected to stay inside to dodge the rain, but you had to talk with Dad before you put visiting him off any further.

The dirt would probably appreciate the rain, though. The dirt under you was more than a little hard, and honestly you would've been more worried if all the crops weren't already harvested.

That thought, like all others, brought you to Dad. How he taught you all of these things.

You were going to have to start before you lost the will completely.

"Hey Dad. It's been a while, hasn't it?" you chuckle, trembling. "Sorry I didn't get to come visit you earlier. Funny, what with you being home and all, but..."

You breathe out. In, slowly. You have to stay controlled or you aren't going to finish.

"Anyway, it's been a sort of eventful year. I ended up burying your sword and keeping your seal, letters and mementoes of mother; a little surprising, what with the vengeance I swore, but it sort of worked out in the end.

"Heh. On a sorta related note, I'm also Baronet of the village. N-not bad for your little sunrise, right?"

The first raindrops are beginning to fall, but you're having a hard time seeing them. You close your eyes, and try to pretend that rain is falling on your cheeks as you brush your hair back.

"It's a long story, but you and I have all the time in the world, r-right?"

So as the tears run down your face and the heavens join in mourning your father, you tell him what you did last year.

When the Wangs meet you next morning, lying on the ground, they simply nod in sad understanding.

You have to spend a short while wrapped in thicker clothes than you might prefer, and dealing with a cough and a runny nose from a cold, but fortunately the Wangs have chosen not to comment about it. The murderous glare you send whenever they start saying that you shouldn't've stayed out so long probably helped.

Anyway, there was one important piece of business that you had to get around to doing, now that you had stuck your foot in the door; Wei Yahui had just about told you to your face that you were going to serve under him when the army was mustered. You could just recruit peasant levies at the last minute like other, lazier nobles might've done, but that didn't sit right with you. Not only would such a thing be what a common noble do, you also knew that would mean the deaths of most of your charges, and that you very much disliked, considering how many of them were fathers.

Wang Chang's tap on your shoulder breaks you out of your concentration.

"Lady Xiao, I understand -"

You roll your eyes and gesture for him to get to the point.

"Right, you never cared for that, did you?" Wang Chang awkwardly scratches his head. "Anyway, I was thinking that over the Winter:

Network - Villagers
Training - Martial
Training - Leadership
Training - Learning
Assist - Xiao (increases the strength of your Actions)

[] [Wang] Yes
[] [Wang] No, instead:

You have Five Actions for the Winter Season.

Estate Stats:
Money: 6215
Reputation: 1225
Retainers: Xin Jin, Wang Chang, Wang Yun
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 You've put out the call in your village, and you're...satisfied with having Xin Jin and Wang Chang on retainer, but perhaps there might be better out in the surrounding villages?
-[] Capital Correspondence You did promise Li Qiu, Li Mao, and Zhang Lei that you'd write. You should follow through on that.
-[] Guo Jian You left this man in charge of Erse village. You should check up on him.
-[] Wang Chang He's the man you're going to trust to manage you and your father's farm; you should make sure your relationship is strong.
-[] Fighting Squad You need to put one together, and the only people that you can really recruit from are in the village. The earlier you get started, the more you can train them before they too must go out to the Plains of Baifan.
[] 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!

hYGP · Jan 29, 2019

So! It's been a month, nearly the entire running length of the quest beforehand, and I feel like some explanations are in order.

Primarily, midterms hit like a truck and I found I had basically no time to write whatsoever.

The other big reason, however, is because I started to see the writing on the wall for the current way I have the turns set up; within a few turns the estate turns would basically be totally unmanageable and even this turn barely holds itself together.

So, that meant rethinking how I went about writing these turns, and I think I'm going to end up shifting the Estate turns to be more...CKII in style than the current RoTK style I've got going on here.

This turn will still play out as before, but the flavor text is that Han Xiao tried to do things the way like she did the first month, but now that she's Baronet things are spiraling out of control a little bit.

You play Han Xiao, the daughter of a man killed by the Yang's Qiu Pan. Over the last, hectic year, you've held a funeral for your father, went on a road trip with a wandering merchant friend, fought your way into a Duke's favor, and then played a critical role in ensuring the King's survival in the coup attempt over the summer.

x5 QM Boost

x5 OOC Questions

As previously stated, the Kingdom of Ou is located in a bowl-like valley , enclosed by high, treacherous mountain ranges to the northwest, southwest, and southeast, and with the only reliable opening to the rest of the Central Lands through the Baifan plains, of which bottleneck the Yang have managed to take complete control of.

Within the Kingdom of Ou itself, the dominant feature is the lake Ou by which all other features of the Kingdom are defined; the Nanou region, which contains both Nanhu village, Erse village (aka your place) and generally most places south of the lake; the Dongyun region to the east of the lake, the Xishan region to the west, and the Capital Region to the north, closest to the Plains of Baifan.

The distinguishing features of the Nanou region, with respect to the rest of the Kingdom of Ou, is that...uh...it exists? Harvests are generally worse in the Nanou region, there's very few mineral deposits for mines, none of the physicians believe the Nanou region to have particularly good ingredients, in general it's a very long list of mediocrity to being subpar. What the Nanou region does have going for it, however, is the fact that Nanou would be one of the last regions to ever be attacked by a foreign invader, and also that the people from Nanou are somewhat nicer?

The Xishan region to the west is martially and smithily inclined, with the large iron and coal deposits lending itself well to both the operation of forgeworks and large-scale training. Notably, however, the harvests are even worse in the Xishan region than in the Nanou region; the land is usually much too dry for any cultivated agriculture, and only large-scale irrigation projects can even make Xishan village produce a usuable crop at all.

The Dongyun region to the east, by contrast, is practically a lush paradise by comparison, with some suggesting that the crop output on good years can match even the Baifan plains, acre for acre. Also in the mountains are, rumors hold, potent herbs and extracts far better than anything else in the Kingdom of Ou. However, the Dongyun's great agricultural bounty seems to have come at the cost of having any mineral deposits at all; so far the only thing they've really found, and one of Dongyun's great prides, is this cave with a lake inside lit by glowing sapphires at the bottom.

Lastly is the Capital Region, and it's distinguishing characteristic is its vast agricultural production. Even though acre for acre it has less production than the Dongyun region, the Capital Region has both significantly more arable land and significantly more of that arable land turned into managed farmland. Before the Yang managed to cut the Kingdom of Ou off entirely, the Capital Region also used to be the beating heart of all trade within the Kingdom of Ou, the artery through which all trade to the Center Lands traveled through. Obviously, that is now much less the case.

Money: 6215
Reputation: 1225
Sword (500 Quality)
Sword (250 Quality)
Cloak
Heavy Leathers (-5 Opposing Martial checks)
Han Seal (Currently reduces Leadership check by 25)
Writings (Improved Learning training rolls)
Mementoes (5% chance of ???)
Letters of Commendation (Duke Gancai)
Armor (Quality: 400)
Regalia (Quality: 300)
Banner (Quality: 200)
Bundle of Spears x25 (Quality: 200, bonus to Martial Training rolls under 50)
Wei Seal (Reduces Leadership check by 50+)

Expected End: Han Xiao dies fighting someone stronger than her.
Normal End: Han Xiao achieves her Ambition of avenging her father.
Great End: Han Xiao achieves a [Great] Title.
Legendary End: Han Xiao unifies the Central Lands.

BIG BOSS END: Han Xiao forms the Army For Those Without

possibly more to come depending how I feel in the following days; also free Q and A for 3 updates or so.

Learning Training
Background Roll: 86 + 15 (QM Boost) = 101 Critical Roll! Critical Roll: 3 = 104
Training Roll: 100 + 10 (Talented) Critical! Critical Roll: 1 = 111 Opposed: 20

It's past time you seriously sat down and studied, you supposed. The past month, and your growing dread as you ticked off all the things you needed to do and keep track of, had shown you that you weren't nearly as learned as you should be to properly serve your role as a Baronet, holder of retainers, and lord over Guo Jian.

Wasn't that a thought.

Plus, you shrugged, you'd finally get a chance to seriously read what your father held in his treasured library.

You stared down at the page.

You looked away from the page.

You rubbed your temples.

You looked up at the sun's position.

You sought out candles.

Tonight was going to a long night.

After the fifth time you read the same cruelly unchanging text, you blinked. As you noticed your second candle was about to burn out, you blew it out, and stood up. Pins and needles assaulted your legs, but the pain there held nothing to the massive firestorm raging in your head. Just to check, you held your hand up to your forehead. It was significantly hotter than the cool back of your hand.

Cold comfort, that at least you were right about that.

What you were also right about was the twisted, roiling mess of fury, disgust, horror, and sadness warring for control over your face and emotions.

Father had always talked about how one should love a stranger in need as much as you loved your own family, but he always admitted he had a hard time loving anyone as much as his own daughter; tears in your eyes, you remember those times when you and Dad used to play that stupid game where the two of you argued about who loved each other more. He'd finish those games by saying that you should love friends, neighbors and even strangers that much, but you'd press him, and he'd say he couldn't do it because he loved you too much.

You knew that academically. You knew he had said that. But somehow you had let yourself believe that only the statement that he loved you more than anyone in the whole wide world mattered.

"My daughter, I hope that you will never read this letter," flashes through your closed, weeping eyelids, as your face scrunches in a fury that you didn't know you could feel towards your own father.

"Should you be reading this letter, than I have joined your mother on the other side. I do not know what might bring me down; it may be illness, as your mother two years ago, or it may be at another's hands. It may even be something else entirely, something I cannot even begin to guess.

"Truthfully, I do not know why I write this letter. It is, as the philosopher Mozi puts it, needless extravagance to write a letter which you fervently hope will never have to be read. Merely writing this letter forces me to unbury the emotions your mother's death left in me, and contemplate that future in which you are left without living family.

"But I suppose that is why I am writing this letter to you; should the worst happen, then I hope that you have at least one thing remaining from me. So I leave you my inadequate ramblings on the order of things, tainted and reflected through the cloudy mirror of my own pains and lessons.

The memory grew blurry as you scanned faster and faster, somehow hoping that by recalling the words fast enough you could avoid the line seared into your brain.

"Yes, I should reiterate: Love everyone.

Even my killer, should that come to pass."

Futily, you let out a silent, wordless scream.

[Mohism] Philosophical Fragment Obtained!

Ambition - Philosophy Conflict! Two enter, one exits. Certain actions can influence which is more likely to eventually win in Han Xiao's mind.

Learning Limit Reached!

The next morning, someone knocked on your door. She wears a shawl, and for the first time you note that you're actually looking down on her somewhat.

"Greetings, fair lady. I am Yuan Ping, a disciple of Mozi. I had heard that a new Baronet was installed here; would you be able to allow me to speak with her?"

[] Politely refuse
[] Accept

Leadership Training I
Background Roll: 1 Critical Failure! Critical Failure Roll: 62
Training Roll: 72 + 10 (Talented) = 82 Opposed: 22 + 50 (Background Critical Failure) = 72

As it turns out, you are really unconvincing when you try to practice giving orders while sneezing and coughing every breath. You can't even convince yourself that you're convincing, and you're, well, yourself!

You are also extremely unconvincing to the Wangs, who insist that you should rest and take care of your cold before you try to do more.

Still, as you grumpily lie in bed, you note that the experience has shown how some techniques might be able to work, even if you don't have any time to perform them.

+2 Leadership!

Leadership Training II
Background Roll: 9
Training Roll: 39 + 10 (Talented) = 49 Opposed: 24

Your second attempt to make yourself more leader-like goes slightly better, though the persistent sneeze doesn't help much. Still, this is about as much time as you can dedicate to this stuff before you have to round up a militia, so you'll have to take it.

+6 Leadership!

hYGP · Jan 30, 2019

A/N: This update...criticals. Criticals everywhere. Update was delayed for that reason.

[X] Accept

"You would be looking for me," you say. "Please, do come in," you gesture behind you.

As she comes in, she begins looking around your house, gaze jumping from the small, rough-hewn tables fit for maybe three to the dirt floor to the small windows.

[Trait: Proud]

Somehow, it fills you with shame that you never thought to furnish your house to be a space befitting a noble instead of a particularly industrious farmer's house.

"A house befitting a hardworking family, not a decadant noble," she said, faintly approving as she turned towards you.

"I, however, am not a mere farmer anymore, but a noble with responsibilities to my station," you feebly retort.

"To the contrary, because you are a noble, you have the power to define what your responsibilities are. From what I have heard and seen, you have chosen to prioritize your domain over your estate, despite your greater station," she riposted. "If I believed that a noble who truly seemed to love her charges as she loved her own extended family had done wrong, I would be a poor Mohist, would I not?"

"I will take that as the compliment it appears to be," you say.

She laughed.

"Indeed, it is. I suppose, however, that I shouldn't take up too much more of your time, so let me begin," she said, taking a seat. "As I said, I am a disciple of Mozi, and I am brought to understand that your father was - ah."

Your frosty smile, and the absence of your father told her everything, you note.

"I am sorry for your loss. He was a great man, to have raised a daughter like you," she bowed.

You sigh.

"Your sympathy is appreciated, Yuan Ping," you say, pulling up a chair opposite her. "I suppose it is fortunate that you chose to come here, because I am having difficulty with the Mohist philosophy."

"Then, might you expound on what you know about the Mohist philosophy?" Yuan Ping said.

"The most fundamental tenet is a universal love, as my father wrote; love everyone, even those who have wronged you," you struggle to say. "The other expressions of this requirement show themselves in being humble, ensuring that food is given to everyone, and that the common defense is provided out."

You bite your lip.

"I just don't think that I can follow the tenet of universal love, because I can't bring myself to forgive my father's killer," you bite out.

Yuan Ping nodded.

"I see. Your understanding of the peripheral tenets is good; the Mohists do hold that feeding the people, providing for the common defense, and ensuring a good order are what a state and thus the nobility should concern themselves with. However, your understanding of the most important tenet is off: the most important attribute is not a universal love, but an impartial one. We do not hold that your heart is insufficiently loving, merely that love is not distributed equitably enough," she said.

You sucked air in.

"That correction just makes the tenet even harder to hold," you retort. "I'm afraid I just can't be impartial - "

"Can't or won't?" Yuan Ping cut in.

You stop silent.

Could you?

Could you, at this moment, see yourself eventually forgiving your father's killer, as your father would've wished?

[] [Yuan] Yes
[] [Yuan] No

Guo Jian
Background Roll: 27
This time you had opted for some less formal robes; you'd rather have this discussion discretely, you note as you knock on Guo Jian's door.

"Is the business urgent?" Guo Jian gruffly asks.

"I can wait," you respond.

You swear you can hear his stylus clatter as he runs for the door.

"My apologies, Lady Han! I wasn't aware that you were on the way!" he said, bowing deeply. "Please, sit."

"No, your reaction is fair. Truthfully, I didn't want to alarm the villagers without discussing a matter with you first," you say, moving towards a chair.

"What matter?" Guo Jian said, closing the door.

"The imminent war with the Yang," you deadpan.

"That soon?" Guo Jian said, mouth tightening.

"Yes," you nod. "It was inevitable, so I'm told. The Yang have an army on our borders and heard about what happened in the Capital, so they've decided to capitalize this summer."

"I see. That means you need my help with organizing the villagers and running the village?"

"Yes."

"I suppose that raises the other question: do you want me to stay or go?"

Guo Jian
郭建
SL: 1/10

Stats:
Leadership: 67
Martial: 52
Charisma: 61
Piety: 71
Learning: 73

Traits:
Legacy Builder: Bonus to Learning and Leadership Checks on difficult tasks
First In Line: +5 to training rolls, bonus to Leadership Checks
Serious: Bonus to Learning
Perks:

[] [Guo] Stay
[] [Guo] Go

Fighting Squad

Recruitment Roll: 98 + 10 (Wang Chang Asisst) + 20 (Guo Jian Assist) = 128 Critical! Critical Roll: 13 = 141

Your jaw honestly dropped a touch when you beheld the people that Guo Jian and Wang Chang had managed to gather together. The Lais and the Xus turned out in force as you had hoped, but you weren't expecting literally everybody else to join in. You could swear that the only people who hadn't shown up ready to join your group were the elderly and the children, and even then you saw some of them try to pass themselves as within the age range.

Leadership: 80 - 25 = 55

"Hello, everyone. Thank you for coming out at my request," you say, almost slightly stilted. You weren't expecting this kind of turnout, so who could blame you for being a little overly formal?

The restless crowd could, slightly.

Leadership: 80 - 50 Critical Failure! Critical Failure Roll: 88 = 18

Your lips tightened slightly, as you drew yourself up.

"As your Baronet, I have news from the capital!" you bellow. "In two seasons hence, the Yang will attack the Kingdom of Ou. I have drawn you up to prepare for their attack."

The crowd began blanching, turning slightly hostile. Why would they go out to fight for a King that only levied taxes, you could almost read.

Leadership: 80 + 5 = 85

"I know it is much to ask from you," you acknowledge. "The King is a distant threat, and we are almost as far as we can possibly be from the Yang. Why should we be concerned, you ask?"

The hostilility begins to fade into nodding acceptance.

Leadership: 80 + 28 = 108

"I ask you to be concerned, because the Yang will be harsher; they have to be, to pay their own soldiers and to 'reap spoils of war'," you airquote. "The Capital will not be made to pay the price - you will!" you boom. "I ask you to stand with me so that your children and elders will not have to pay the price!"

You can see the hardening eyes, the hands gripping and waiting to start.

Leadership: 80 + 32 = 112

Your eyes burn, and everything comes into sharp focus.

"Above all, I ask you to fight with me to seize our destiny!" you roar, raising a fist to the sky.

The crowd roared back, fists raised in response.

You let your fist drop, and waited for the crowd to calm down.

"Now that we've gotten that out of the way, I want to tell you another thing: I'm not going to throw you into a war that none of us are prepared for. That's why, today, and for several times afterward, we're going to work on:"

[] [Train] Strength
[] [Train] Discipline
[] [Train] Initiative

"HELLO THE VILLAGE!" a voice boomed.

Xin Jin Returns

Network Roll: 65 + 10 (Charming) + 5 (Perceptive) = 80, modified by Limit Shattered Charisma
Training Roll: 98 + 15 (Genius) = 113 Critical! Critical Roll: 48 + 13 = 161 [Perk Activation: Unlimited]! Limit Shattered!
Marketplace Action(s): 92 + 5 (Favor Of Heaven) + 10 (Limit Shattered Leadership) = 107 Critical! Critical Roll: 64 = 171
Background Roll: 84 + 5 (Favor Of Heaven) + 10 (Limit Shattered Performance) + 5 (Perceptive) = 104 Critical Roll: 100 Double Critical Roll: 52 = 256

Well, Xin Jin certainly knew how to make an entrance. You were sure that you gave him only one cart and 3000 Money to set out with, so coming back with multiple carts and pack animals worth of goods was a slight shock; a bigger one was how he somehow managed to triple the amount you gave him with some left over. What put you most on guard, however, was the sense of danger his sheepish expression managed to instill in you, the new, oddly blank-faced, childlike people he had pulling his other carts, and the possiblility of something else hanging in the air. What, you couldn't quite say, but -

Piety: 64 Opposed: 60

No, your senses were right; something else, aside from just that already pretty worrying expression and blank-faced strangers was raising the hairs on the back of your neck.

You move around the dumbstruck crowd towards him; if something's wrong, you might as well as resolve this quickly.

Xin Jin himself brings his group to a stop a significant distance away from the practicing group, facing towards you as he scratched his head.

"Boss, can we talk a little bit more privately?" he asked as you approached.

You raise an eyebrow.

"Granted. Guo Jian, Wang Chang, everyone else; back to drilling, as we were!" you order, half-turning back.

Piety: 64 Opposed: 57

Your sense of danger spikes again, and you rotate back towards Xin Jin, as the din of the practicing crowd begins to roar.

"So what is it you wanted to talk to me about, Xin Jin?" you ask.

"Well, as it turns out the rumored Dongyun Lin Gui both exist and I might kinda sorta possibly be in a courtshipperiodwiththeirprincess," he rushed out.

You sigh. So she was why your gut was screaming danger at you.

"I believe you have me at somewhat of a disadvantage, Princess of the Dongyun Lin Gui, but I suppose for the sake of good manners I should formally introduce myself," you say, eyes closed as you bow to the...

Piety: 64 Opposed: 38

second-to-last cart, where you could feel the aura coming from.

"It is an honor to meet you, Princess of the Dongyun Lin Gui. I am Baronet Han Xiao, the first of her titled name, whose domain is this village and its surrounding territories. I am also the lord over Xin Jin, whose hand I am brought to understand is in question. I hope that we may enjoy a long and prosperous relationship, should we and the heavens will it," you bow again.

You felt the tension loosen, the bowstring merely taut instead of nocked. Twin blood-red eyes open, as she unfurls herself out of the cart. Her long hair is tied in a loose ponytail by a distinctive pattern of red leaves, her clothes nearly as pale as her skin.

"I am Long Yue, Princess of the Dongyun Lin Gui, Surmounter of the Waterfall," a soft, assured voice issued. "It is an honor to meet you, Baronet Han, whose domain includes this village and Xin Jin, and I too likewise hope that our relationship is long and prosperous, should the heavens will it," she said, bowing.

Both of you stand there for a moment, spines ramrod straight as you bored past her eyes and she pierced past yours.

[Trait: Proud]

This was a contest of wills, and no matter who she might be, you had stood before a Duke, a Prince, and a King without flinching; you might bend, but you would not break before this self-titled moon dragon.

[Trait: Perceptive]

Neither would she, you could see. That same fire that burned in your eyes burned in hers, the eyes of a woman who had surmounted a waterfall refusing to lose to the lord of Xin Jin.

You couldn't help yourself. Your eyes glinted, your lips pulled back, and so did hers.

[Perk: The Heart I]

"Draw?" you offer.

"It'll be your loss," she grinned.

"H-hey boss, Miss Yue, can you, uh..." Xin Jin awkwardly tries to interject.

Long Yue turned towards Xin Jin, breaking eye contact for a moment as she prepared to berate Xin Jin. You smirked.

"It's a draw then," you say, as her expression drops.

"Fine, it's a draw," she flushes, looking down.

"Now, would you like a seat, princess?" you offer, gesturing to the carts.

"Gladly," she said, mostly recovered.

Just as she began to sit down, you opened up.

[] [Yue] Tell me how the two of you met
[] [Yue] What are you willing to offer?
[] [Yue] How does the courtship period work?
[] [Yue] What do you seek from my estate?

-3000 Money, + 10000 Money, + 100 Reputation

A Shitty Shonen Quest

Recent threadmarks

Recent threadmarks

hYGP

hYGP

hYGP

hYGP

hYGP

hYGP

hYGP

hYGP

hYGP

Recent threadmarks

Recent threadmarks