Okay! Character sheet is -- at last -- fully formatted, and I've a means of easily and adaptively expanding it now. As my test of that last part, I've now entered in Jaron Somerlad's Character Sheet, under "Humans." Now, it's time to go for the evening, I'm tired. Happy reading, and expect an update tomorrow, followed by me getting into the nitty-gritty of formatting the Lore Screen and uploading content. Bye-bye!
Not really. Jaron has no idea that ki exists. You suspect that he is the unknowing beneficiary of Jaffur's own mastery, but he could on the other hand just be an oddly graceful boy. Regardless, he doesn't even know that ki exists, so whatever it is is occurring in blissful ignorance of the nature of ki, and thus through an utter lack of any native talent of his own.
Good news is that accordions are actually kind of perfect for this job once you get over the fact that they're only slightly less of a pain to format than tabs. I'm sure a way exists to make the tabs cooperate and end up doing the thing I was trying to make them do. It would have been pretty. I'm pretty sure, given sufficient time and thought, I would have managed it.
F*ck that noise. F*ck it hard. Accordions are the way to go!
We discover that the frost demons, namekians, Metalmen and Imeckians have each suffered similar cataclysms and have been hiding here with their own masquerade. That we managed to get one of each as a friend despite none of the Masquerades having discovered each other is considered yet another divine revelation and our cult only grows.
How I think Ki Enhancement Works
An Analytical Speculation
Base
There is in every body a ki network, through which ki circulates. Ki is generated by the body, and also used by the body for enhancement. Generally it takes a while for the body to consume the ki generated, long enough for the body to replace it, but the rigors of a fight use up ki faster than it can be generated, which causes exhaustion. Several times fighters have commented about having "used up all their Ki" or "used up all their energy". When exhaustion is not a factor the body replaces ki faster than it is used and some of this ki is lost harmlessly to the atmosphere.
For the wider Galaxy, Battle Power or Power Level (called BPL from here out) is then a measure of Ki Flux (possibly flow) in the body. More ki, or faster flow, or better distributed flow throughout the body can all make a person more powerful.
Of course, while the wider galaxy knows how to do ki blasts, they don't know how to optimize any of this beyond whatever the genetic and environmental lottery sees fit to bestow upon any given individual.
Not so for martial artists of Earth and Otherworld. I shall attempt to use this model of a Ki Circulatory Network to explain the various shenaniganry Dragon Ball Martial Artists get up to.
Suppressing one's BPL is obviously a matter of throttling back how much of your ki is flowing, and raising your BPL is increasing how much of your ki is flowing (naturally up to a given maximum). This would be Ki Control in the quest
Ki blasts are also obvious, simply having the ki flow out of the body in a destructive way. Blasts are discrete cut off quantities while beams are more like a water hose spraying water.
Muton Roshi's training with the turtle shell, or the gravity room training is somewhat different and requires more explanation. Like any system designed by evolution, the Ki Circulatory Network is horribly unoptimized, and Mutaito figured out a method by which one can adjust the automatic and subconscious management of ki flow to more optimal arrangements. The Turtle Shells and weighted clothing and the gravity room are, presumably, all methods of assisting this process.
So what about that incident with Ginyu in Goku's body not being able to get his BPL nearly as high? I posit that the methods of the Mutaito derived schools include some sort of concious control over how your ki circulatory network distributes your ki. Dancing is different from brick laying is different from feats of pure strength is different from digesting is different from fighting is different from gymnastics. Which places in your body have priority on getting ki will influence which of these things you are better at. Thus part of Mutatio derived Martial Arts schools is influencing consciously how the ki network distributes ki throughout the body. This also explains how charged Ki attacks can have a higher effective power level.
Kaio-Ken is increasing the rate of flow through the network. As mentioned in the show, this is extremely delicate and while it gives enormous boosts it comes with equally enormous stresses on the body. The Ki Circulatory Network is designed for a certain rate of flow, and increasing it is something that it has trouble handling. It is possible to mitigate these stresses with good enough Ki Control and Distribution control, which is how Goku is able to master x2 and then up to x10 without any of the usual danger. "Kaio-Ken Times X" simply means your ki is flowing X times faster than normal.
Bulking is increasing the cross sectional area of the Ki Conduits that form the network. This also necessitates a partial Kaio-Ken to compensate for the lower ki velocity that results. It also means that bulking is one way to further mitigate the stresses of Kaio-Ken, which would explain why Goku bulks up so much in the Vegeta fight.
Zenkai is the Saiyan body deciding to produce more ki than it did previously after surviving a beatdown, because clearly it wasn't producing enough before. I presume that the Turtle Shell and Weighted Clothing and Gravity Room also help train the body to produce more Ki, thus when the need to reinforce the body against the weight disappears some amount of ki is freed to increase the amount flowing through the body being used for enhancement in other ways. Because Ki is bullshit this increase in the raw quantity of Ki doesn't cause any sort of pressure problems for the fighter's Ki Network like Kaio-Ken does.
Super Saiyan
In the context of this quest, I propose the following explanation for Super Saiyan:
There are two potential wells of power for a Saiyan, the normal generative mechanisms of Ki and also a storage where some of the excess ki is stored. There are also two Ki Circulatory Networks in every Saiyan, the humanoid one and the Oozaru one.
When a Saiyan fights normally there is a trickle of power from the storage. When a Saiyan activates SSJ then a larger amount of the storage pours out, but not into the network of the form they are currently in, instead it pours out into the network that is currently not in use. Super Saiyan is the stored ki flowing through the Oozaru Ki Network, while Golden Oozaru is instead the stored ki flowing through the humanoid network.
Super Saiyan is achieving access to 1/8th of the storage. Super Saiyan 2 is access 1/4th of the storage. Super Saiyan 3 is all of the storage. Thus, SSJ2 is SSJ1x2, and SSJ3 is SSJ2x4, as is the commonly recieved multipliers.
Full Power is not a thing unique to SSJ1 in this conception. Rather, it is a state of having a comparable degree of control over your secondary ki network as you have over your primary. We know that in Goku's body Ginyu could only get a PL of 23k, while Goku's mastery of his ki allowed him to stretch that same amount to 85k. Full Power Super Saiyan is the state of being able to do the same sort of thing with the secondary ki network. This explains SSJ3 Goku talking about how "he needs a minute to get up to full power" during the fight with Kid Buu, even as the flood of power for SSJ2 or SSJ3 is too much to stay transformed indefinitely the Saiyan still retains the ability to utilize said power to a much greater degree.
In this model it would be possible for a Saiyan to achieve SSJ2 without snapping the wards, they just need to not have achieved FPSSJ, ASSJ, or USSJ.
This model also explains why Kaio-Ken is so much harder for Super Saiyans than in base form: you need to modulate the ki flow rate of two different ki networks at once.
So what about Super Saiyan 4? My idea is as follows: SSJ4 is a partial transformation to Oozaru that removes the inefficiencies that arise from the redundancies of having two separate ki networks. I see this as probably being in the form of a division of labor in the Ki Networks, instead of both networks doing everything a Ki Network does one would handle non-fighting stuff and the other would handle fighting stuff.
SSJ4 therefore represents the completed mastery of the totality of the Saiyan Form. It closes the gap between Oozaru and Humanoid. The holistic system of the Saiyan body no longer acts in a divided or partial way as it does in the other forms, but as a complete whole.
This doesn't predict a specific power level or particular multiplier for SSJ4, but it should be gigantic.
[X] Tell Fennella you'd rather not spar.
-[X] Ask Fennella what's up. Who's that she's trying not to look at?
--[X] Go and ask the frustrated power level what they're doing.
---[X] Drag Fennella with.
Sometimes, I have fun seeing the thread go wild with speculation. This was a fun bit of thread to translate into Kakara's inner monologue indeed.
Great Expectations
You hesitate, and then open your mouth to say no.
You hesitate again, and start to say yes.
You shake your head, blink, and finally say aloud, "If it's alright with you, Fennella...not today? I mean, we probably have time, but it looks like things are going to start soon."
You mind whirls. How will she try to convince you otherwise? What ulterior motives does she have behind this? A coup? Oh, beat the Scion at her own game in front of an audience of thousands, how clever of you, Fennella, but you forgot that she knows she's dealing with a Peat, didn't you?
You are wise to her tricks. Perhaps her uncle put her up to this. Perhaps that presence in the crowd is to blame, prompting her. The timing is suspicious. Maybe she's just asking for fun, but you're on watch, and you know better. Time to sit back, and wait to see how she tries to insist that-
She shrugs and smiles. "Okay! Wanna talk a little more instead while we wait?"
You blink.
...on the other hand, maybe she is in fact just an eleven-year-old with a new friend who wants to do something fun. Um.
You look away into the crowd to cover your blush. "S- sure! Um, who's that you're trying not to look at? Are you okay?"
The smile drops off her face. She drops her head into her hands and groans. "Ugh. Please, just ignore him?"
You frown. "Who is he?"
"Dillon Mato. Heir to House Mato. He's been bothering me for weeks and he won't leave me alone," she replies.
You cock your head. "Why?"
She turns red. "Don't ask."
You look into the crowd towards Dillon's presence. You look at Fennella. You look at Dillon. A grin spreads across your face as you realize that, for a change, this isn't political intrigue.
This is childish drama, and you love that stuff.
You seize Fennella's arm and start dragging her off into the crowd.
"Kakara, what are y- ulp!"
Fennella digs in her heels as you bring her towards the heir to House Mato, her heels digging into the rock. You simply fire up your power level a little more and keep walking. Her feet leave trails in the floor.
She's babbling. "Kakara, please, let's not, he's weird and I don't want to talk to him. Why are are you doing this now? Oh ancestors this is going to be so bad, Kakara please let me go please please please..."
You ignore her and keep moving. Dillon's presence switches from frustration to surprise and starts moving away. You frown. Can't have that! You put two fingers to your-
vip
-yeah, that's getting to be an unconscious habit. A saiyan boy around Fennella's age rears back in sudden shock as you flash into being in front of him.
"I- I- Lady Scion!" he says, gathering himself and dropping into a deep bow.
"Hi!" you say, grinning broadly. "What's up, Dillon?"
He leans back, straightening. "I...um?
"So, what are you doing?"
"What am I doing?"
"What are you doing?"
"Nothing much!"
"Watching my friend?"
"Watching your friend?"
"Are you?"
He takes a step back, looking desperately confused. "Um...I..."
"Yes he is," mumbles Fennella, looking away.
Your mourn the death of your comedic rhythm, but forge on regardless. "I don't think that's very nice, Dillon. Fennella, is that very nice?"
"No, it's not very nice."
"That's not very nice," you say, giving Dillon that grin of yours that always seems to make people uncomfortable.
He shakes, pale. "I- I- I- I- I-"
It's working.
"Why are you watching?" you ask, flashing in close and leaning up into his face.
He flinches, screaming briefly.
"He wants a spar, don't you Dillon?" says Fennella, getting her feet back under her enough to look spitefully pleased at his predicament. "Even though I keep saying I don't want to, you won't give it up!"
You blink, and frown.
Dillon looks past you at Fennella. "Father said-"
"I don't care what your Dad said!" she replies, stamping her foot. "You're acting weird, and I told you I don't want to! Why can't you just leave me alone?"
You lift off the ground in order to get at Dillon's eye level. He blinks and freezes.
You peer at him intently. "...do you like her?"
He flushes and starts making stammering noises that don't translate to anything intelligible.
You turn, as usual quickly enough that you seem to flicker in their gazes, and look at Fennella. You stare at her with just as much focus as you did Dillon. She blinks. "What?"
You frown. "...I mean, I guess you don't have pigtails for him to pull."
She turns red.
You turn back to Dillon. "Is this something most saiyan boys do with girls they like?" you ask, completely serious now. "'Cause if so, I need to talk to one of them. Once I get the chance to again, anyway."
He shakes his head violently. "I- I don't- I don't like her or anything! That's gross!"
You pout. "Oh. Too bad. That would have explained a lot." You drift off to the side, still deep in thought.
Behind you, you hear Fennella suddenly scream, "WHAT?!"
Dillon starts stammering unintelligibly again.
"I mean, I don't know if I'd like him back, but it sure would have made him make a little more sense," you muse.
"I'm s- sorry, I just-"
"YOU FOLLOW ME AROUND FOR WEEKS CHALLENGING ME TO SPARS AND ACTING ALL SECRET AND BROODY WHEN I TRY AND TALK TO YOU, BUT YOU SAY YOU DON'T LIKE ME AT ALL WHEN THE SCION ASKS?!"
"He was kind of weird even without asking to spar every time we talked," you say, cupping your chin in your hand.
"That's gross!" says Dillon, still backpedaling as you subconsciously track him through your ki sense. "Why would I-"
"WHAT, I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH OR SOMETHING?! STUPID, STUPID IDIOT!"
You blush lightly as you consider the possibilities. "I mean, I guess he was a little cute, and his Masque is so weirdly close that I know I wasn't imagining that, but I don't know if I'd like him that way...not that it matters for now anyway, but- hey!" You turn back around. "Wait a minute!"
The two Heirs, only an inch from each other's faces, freeze and turn to look at you.
You scowl at Dillon. "You lied! You do like her!" You point at him accusingly.
He looks at you, completely pale. He looks back at Fennella, flinching as he meets her furious gaze. He opens his mouth.
WHAM
He collapses, groaning, as she socks him in the stomach and then whirls, storming off with an offended sniff.
And at that exact moment, High Priest Celeran's voice echoes out over the crowd. "Everybody, please find your seats. The last-minute preparations are complete, and the Council will begin shortly."
You blink and fly off to the stage, taking your seat beside your Grandma. You take note that you're closer to the center than her.
Celeran stand up in the center of the stage and spreads his arms. His voice, naturally deep and booming and enhanced with his own ki besides, roars out over the crowd, silencing them instantly. "Brothers and sisters of the Faith! I welcome you to the Second Garenhuld Ancestral Council!"
* * *
The Council is called to order, and the High Priest is opening things up. The next few minutes promise to be a fairly boring maze of introductions, announcements, largely-meaningless proclamations, and probably a prayer or two somewhere in there. You're...honestly not going to miss that much if you let your mind wander a bit.
[ ] Zone out. What's the harm? (Pick a topic. The general consensus and tone of discussion regarding said topic on the thread from now until vote close determines Kakara's thoughts on said topic)
-[ ] About Fennella and Dillon.
-[ ] About the Council.
-[ ] About the Cult.
-[ ] About your plans for the Sealing.
-[ ] About Lady Vegeta.
-[ ] About the Misfits.
-[ ] About Jaffur.
-[ ] About Jaron.
-[ ] Write-In.
[ ] Be good. Pay attention and listen closely.
THIS VOTE IS NOW CLOSED.
* * *
*standing in front of the big red button labeled "Waifu Wars," holding an assault rifle* She is nine she is nine she is nine she is nine she is only capable of innocent crushes she is nine-
*standing in front of Poptart in bomb squad armor and hiding behind a riot shield* Why did you do this? Why even offer the temptation?
BECAUSE SHE WAS TOO ADORABLE NOT TO!
Heh.
You thought it was all political thriller stuff, all the time! BUT IT WAS ME, DIO- ahem. It was actually just a friendly young girl and her embarrassing mutual crush on the heir to another House. And Kakara, being adorable about the whole thing. I was cackling while the discussion was going nuclear over that. I love being a QM sometimes.
(Although seriously, Dillon as a mastermind manipulating Fennella into humiliating you in front of the Cult at large -- hilarious from my perspective as the one who actually writes this dork. I see how you came to that conclusion, but wow was it funny from my point of view. And he is such a dork, in the particular manner that boys are famous for)
As a general, important announcement: Starting now, I will be scaling back the cookies system, with the eventual goal of removing them entirely. They were initially instituted as a means of increasing reader engagement and rewarding participation, but as the thread has grown, they've bloated badly (seriously, check the cookie jar. Yikes). It's a good system for a small quest that could use the help, but in retrospect, this is a Dragon Ball quest, and there aren't any others currently running. Seriously, I've checked. I didn't anticipate the amount of participants who'd jump on board because of that, and even when it became obvious how quickly this was growing I didn't adequately test out the cookies mechanic for how it handled under strain. I've since done so, and discovered this: at the current rate people are picking them up at, you all are at the point where you can safely and sustainably devote a cookie to every single roll. Hell, you'd profit given that not every update even requires a roll. That's well over the line at which this becomes system-breaking. Any present cookie holders will not have their cookies revoked, but I will be offering fewer and fewer until eventually stopping entirely and just letting the jar run dry. As the first step in this process, non-canon omakes will no longer be rewarded with cookies, even at the previous reduced rate.
Thank you all for the contributions you've made that have earned you cookies. I appreciate you all coming aboard and getting so invested into this quest. Every new reader who comes aboard with something to say gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling.
*standing in front of the big red button labeled "Waifu Wars," holding an assault rifle* She is nine she is nine she is nine she is nine she is only capable of innocent crushes she is nine-
*standing in front of Poptart in bomb squad armor and hiding behind a riot shield* Why did you do this? Why even offer the temptation?
Dude, I've been shipping Kakara and Jaffur since the beginning. And it's Husbando Wars, since our character is female, and it's arguing about a male character. Unless there's something you wish to tell us about Jaffur...?
And besides, I've seen such things start for younger characters.
I've since done so, and discovered this: at the current rate people are picking them up at, you all are at the point where you can safely and sustainably devote a cookie to every single roll.
Dude, I've been shipping Kakara and Jaffur since the beginning. And it's Husbando Wars, since our character is female, and it's arguing about a male character. Unless there's something you wish to tell us about Jaffur...?
And besides, I've seen such things start for younger characters.
It's me giving you a pass. And it basically determines if you want further comedy (it's threadspeak as translated by a nine-year-old, it's always funny) next update while skipping past the boring stuff to the meat of matters, or if you'd rather just receive an abbreviated summary of the boring stuff while getting directly to the meat of matters. But yeah, it'll also consolidate how she feels about it, even if that's, "conflicted."
@PoptartProdigy, at one point you said to Aranfan that he'd almost got a cookie from the multiple non-canon omakes he wrote. Since he was so close and he's unable to produce a cookie-gaining non-canon omake anymore, why not give him that last cookie?
Is a cookie per action that game-breaking? It's just a +10 on the action, isn't it?
@PoptartProdigy, at one point you said to Aranfan that he'd almost got a cookie from the multiple non-canon omakes he wrote. Since he was so close and he's unable to produce a cookie-gaining non-canon omake anymore, why not give him that last cookie?
Is a cookie per action that game-breaking? It's just a +10 on the action, isn't it?
A +10 on every single roll in the game is somewhat game-breaking, yes. More game-breaking is the fact that you all could easily afford to stack the maximum three allowed cookies up on any action of significance.
@PoptartProdigy , you realize that you just triggered COOKIE HOARDING MODE, right? The whole advantage of phasing such a mechanic in is doing it before anybody catches on. Some of us are obsessive-compulsive magpies at the best of times.
