Dueling Fate
- Thread starter KreenWarrior
- Start date
We got amulet boy!
[X] You will take a book and copy it, as instructed.
-[X] A fine book bound in silver is entitled simply Emperor, with a picture of a crown upon it and a symbol of the Empire. Perhaps learning more about your political situation would help you navigate further encounters with Cao Feng's servants.
One of our competitors is a noble so I think getting to know our enemy will help us plan for future encounters. This may also give us additional context for how Lind's association with the Ghost will be viewed by high society.
[X] You will take a book and copy it, as instructed.
-[X] A fine book bound in silver is entitled simply Emperor, with a picture of a crown upon it and a symbol of the Empire. Perhaps learning more about your political situation would help you navigate further encounters with Cao Feng's servants.
One of our competitors is a noble so I think getting to know our enemy will help us plan for future encounters. This may also give us additional context for how Lind's association with the Ghost will be viewed by high society.
- Location
- Earth
[X] You will take a book and copy it, as instructed.
-[X] A book embossed in gold with the title "A Flower Among the Reeds". Perhaps a history of your sect might answer questions you didn't even know you had.
-[X] A book embossed in gold with the title "A Flower Among the Reeds". Perhaps a history of your sect might answer questions you didn't even know you had.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] You will take a book and copy it, as instructed.
-[X] A book embossed in gold with the title "A Flower Among the Reeds". Perhaps a history of your sect might answer questions you didn't even know you had.
I don't think that there will be ab actual difference in how much lind ejoys copying the travels vs the other books. This is clearly an exposition vote and I want to know about the place we're in.
-[X] A book embossed in gold with the title "A Flower Among the Reeds". Perhaps a history of your sect might answer questions you didn't even know you had.
I don't think that there will be ab actual difference in how much lind ejoys copying the travels vs the other books. This is clearly an exposition vote and I want to know about the place we're in.
SleepyCaterpilar
Just a Rapariga
[X] You will take a book and copy it, as instructed.
-[X] A book embossed in gold with the title "A Flower Among the Reeds". Perhaps a history of your sect might answer questions you didn't even know you had.
-[X] A book embossed in gold with the title "A Flower Among the Reeds". Perhaps a history of your sect might answer questions you didn't even know you had.
- Location
- Earth
So far it looks like a tie between the Sect exposition and the "Travels of Li" alliance.
[X] You will take a book and copy it, as instructed.
-[X] A book embossed in gold with the title "A Flower Among the Reeds". Perhaps a history of your sect might answer questions you didn't even know you had.
Might change to Emperor if viable.
-[X] A book embossed in gold with the title "A Flower Among the Reeds". Perhaps a history of your sect might answer questions you didn't even know you had.
Might change to Emperor if viable.
[X] You will take a book and copy it, as instructed.
-[X] A fine book bound in silver is entitled simply Emperor, with a picture of a crown upon it and a symbol of the Empire. Perhaps learning more about your political situation would help you navigate further encounters with Cao Feng's servants.
-[X] A fine book bound in silver is entitled simply Emperor, with a picture of a crown upon it and a symbol of the Empire. Perhaps learning more about your political situation would help you navigate further encounters with Cao Feng's servants.
[X] You will take a book and copy it, as instructed.
-[X] A book embossed in gold with the title "A Flower Among the Reeds". Perhaps a history of your sect might answer questions you didn't even know you had.
-[X] A book embossed in gold with the title "A Flower Among the Reeds". Perhaps a history of your sect might answer questions you didn't even know you had.
[X] You will take a book and copy it, as instructed.
-[X] A book embossed in gold with the title "A Flower Among the Reeds". Perhaps a history of your sect might answer questions you didn't even know you had.
-[X] A book embossed in gold with the title "A Flower Among the Reeds". Perhaps a history of your sect might answer questions you didn't even know you had.
[X] You will take a book and copy it, as instructed.
-[X] The Travels of Li, depicting a woman with a parasol. Perhaps appealing to your wanderlust will help keep your attention on what might otherwise be a boring task.
-[X] The Travels of Li, depicting a woman with a parasol. Perhaps appealing to your wanderlust will help keep your attention on what might otherwise be a boring task.
- Location
- Australia
I'll take it, cheers Rah
Wherever the Light Touches
You look at the books that your senior has on display. While your Senior's methods are to put it mildly, not the way you prefer to learn, you put aside thoughts of leaving. Her words have the ring of truth, and if they are true, it's for the best that you bury your head in books now and not later. On a whim you pull the Travels of Li from the collection, hoping that at the very least it will contain some travels and adventures to make your work if not fun, then hopefully inspiring at the very least.
Though while Mehdi and Bai Ping also collect works of their own, your newest acquaintance is less inclined to follow the wishes of your Senior.
"It seems that my time could be better spent," Yan says quietly as he stares at the text left in the box. "I will greet you in the morning when I return." He tells you all, bowing quickly to the Senior, who does not acknowledge him, lost in her own meditations, before he marches out of the room, closing the door behind him.
He is not the only one who finds your Seniors instructions chafing. You hear Medhi fidgeting and making sounds of annoyance as he works, and a few minutes later you glance up as Mehdi closes the book he'd begun reading and leaves the room. His exit does not draw Senior Xiu from her meditations either and you and Ping are left to tend to your own work.
You've read some of the letters from Captain Yang and Shao Suyin, short little one sentence notes that you were able to parse through easily enough. The Travels of Li are written in a flowery prose, five words used when one could do the job.
It's difficult to understand.
That is until Senior Xiu rises from her meditations and sees that you have remained. She approaches and looks over your shoulder, scrunching her nose at certain sections of the text.
"Li was considered by many to be more concerned with their story than accurate record keeping, however her adventures hold more than a lick of truth."
The Senior flips through the page, before she points to a section.
Through groves and bush this traveller roamed, before they met a tribe, one who lived off the God's favour. A village of crimson, a people who no longer worked the land for food, their sustenance gained from their lords blessing. The eye of Hunter followed him to the edge of the forest and beyond though he never dared draw its gaze further beyond…
You know that gaze, you've felt it on you twice before and both in this past week.
You find it interesting, that you had not known the Hunter your whole life, and now you almost can't escape him.
"There is a Village to the Western Border that has been studied over recent decades," Senior Xiu tells you. "Their bargains with their God has changed their bodies irrevocably, they no longer felt thirst or hunger, surviving on life and qi from the God's blessing. This blessing is found in their children as well, even before they are of age to pay tribute."
"Though that devotion comes with a price." She continues. "They turned from other pursuits, addicted to the blessings of the god, seeking ever greater displays of prowess. In their strength, they offended many. In the end, they transgressed, although the records do not say how, and their blessings were withdrawn. Through The Travels of Li the sect was made aware of this God and the benefits and dangers of his blessing."
"I know this God," Lind tells her as he reads through the passage and how the traveller opted to never return to the grove. "One of the initiates introduced us on a hunt."
A shimmering lock of hair taps against Xiu's chin as she ponders your words with a glint of interest. "It could be that he hails from this very village himself, or he has come to know of this knowledge in other ways. Pursue the Path of Crimson or don't Lind Tallak, the God is considered fair, provided that the supplicant meets his expectations."
The Travels of Li 0/20 – Completion Roll
Insight + Lore Roll + Senior Xiu = 4+0+2 = 6d10
5 2 3 1 4 1 – No Success
4 6 2 8 9 2 – 2 Successes
5 3 10 7 3 8 – 4 Successes
9 6 9 10 8 4 – 5 Successes
The Travels of Li 11/20, Lore +1
Over the next few hours, with Senior Xiu's wisdom, though also with her impatience as you struggle with parts of the narrative you manage to make decent headway through the Travels of Li. The Crimson Hunter, the Shattered Empires to the West that Mehdi hails from. You read with rapt attention of the end of an Empire in one night. A story of arrogance. A failed ritual to empower the Emperor swallowing all within the Rituals borders into the Infernal Fires below this realm, a crater of fire and ash that raged to this day all that is left.
A continent to the East of this sect, far beyond this ocean home to all manner of beasts and monsters engages your senses. The author tells of Stalkers, invisible to the human eye, the only way you could identify them the telltale scent of blood. A scent one could only smell when they were already within striking distance. She weaves a tale of spiders the size of houses preying upon expedition members from the shadows, luring them into an early grave with the promise of treasure and riches, hypnotised by their webbing.
It is only as the early rays of the sun begin to creep through the window that you realise the time and Senior Xiu calls for the pair of you to finish your work for the day.
"We will meet each week and during this time I will provide you with training and guidance. Outside of those hours, your time is yours to do with as you see fit. I do not care what you choose to due during these hours, so long as what you choose to do leads to results in your trials."
You and Bai Ping glance at each other, before nodding in unison.
"Now follow me, I will take you to the heart of the sect and then return to my own quarters."
Over the next hour, your Senior takes you on a path deeper into the sect than you have ever been before. Past the compound which you and The Ghost had forged your pill. As you continue to walk, you see a mighty river, one where the runoff from the farther sect's mountains collects into a cataclysmic surge which thrums with power, a current that would take you as you are and crush you under its strength both physical and spiritual. As you walk alongside it you are greeted by members of the sect, some of whom strike up a conversation with Senior Xiu, others who congratulate the two of you on your admission.
Eventually, you reach the end of the roaring torrent, a sharp drop lies in front of you as the water throws itself off the edge, into a vast lake.
And the world below is beautiful.
You remember the first time your father had taken you high enough into the mountains that the two of you could turn back and you could look down upon your home and see it in its entirety. Huts almost buried under piles of snow, small black dots moving through the sea of white. Logs stacked high to keep the fires burning. You remember that it was the first time you had ever stopped to consider that those cold, harsh mountains were not just unforgiving. It was the first time you also found them to be beautiful.
The main compound is bordered with whitewashed walls of stone or brick, the height indicating they are more for show than defense – or more likely, the spiritual defences are more significant. Many buildings are within its boundaries, designed with understated-yet-beautiful spires and crenellations, but you notice from here that some have boarded up windows and show signs of disuse.
The sun glistens off the water, bathing the heart of the sect in the warm glow of morning. Wooden bungaloes surround the centre, and disciples wake with the morning, opening their doors, and walking to the heart of the sect.
The heart itself betrays the age of the sect. Buildings haphazardly stacked on top of each other from centuries of individual needs and wants have managed to form a chaotic superstructure that lies at the bottom. That heart sits at the centre of a cove which empties out into the lake and into the blue abyss beyond. Floating stones lead from the shoreline to the centre of the cove. You watch as a member of the sect glides from one stone to the other as he heads to the centre, passing by another coming the opposite way.
Along the shore a group are settled near the water, cycling the Qi of the world. Not far away from them a bevy of Crafters hammer away at steel under roared instructions. Warriors engage in combat, exchanging strikes at a speed far beyond your own as a circle watches on.
You don't know what to do first.
You have reached the Golden Reeds Sect! As such a host of opportunities are now welcome to you.
Plans will now be weekly, with days of rest factored in. Your actions have increased due to achieving Consecration.
Choose Six Actions – (Note: You will do two training actions with Senior Xiu each plan, these are already factored in)
Sect Actions
[] As a member of the Golden Reeds you are now able to access training and lessons from Elders and highly regarded Seniors of the Sect.
[] Job boards of the sect grant you the opportunity for contribution points, the more points you have the greater rewards you can receive. You will visit the job boards and see what tasks you can take on.
[] The sect is open to all manner of stores, you will look to peruse the wares of the main market.
[] You already have some skill in the art of cultivation, and you're recently found a Qi spot, go forth and cycle.
-[] Write in where and what you are cycling towards.
Social Actions
[] Bai Ping has been spending his time enthralled by the tomes given to you by your honored Senior. Perhaps by spending some time with him you can glean some of the additional knowledge he has learned.
[] Mehdi stormed out of the hut the other night and seems reticent to take part in any of Senior Xiu's training, perhaps you should speak to him and find out his concerns?
[] Your new acquaintance Yan is pleasant enough, though you can't say that you know him well beyond the charms on his person. Getting to know your new teammate can only be a boon.
[] Wu Chanying is getting to business immediately. She has suggested that the two of you meet and discuss the potential for an alliance of sorts in the first task.
[] Vijaya has sent a letter inviting you to a spar, curious to see if you have improved since your initial spar at the sect.
[] Liu Zhiqiang is seen in public arguing with a member of the sect, should you intervene and help him in his conflict?
[] Your new senior didn't seem all too pleased to make your acquaintance, perhaps by talking to her you can find some common ground.
[] Now that you have access to the sect proper, you should wander through and see who you run into. (???)
Personal Actions
[] Go and see what the sect has for you, explore to your hearts content (D100)
[] You are a hunter, above all else. Go and search for some quarry (Write in your search location).
-[]
[] Back in the port city there is always work for skilled labourers and you often see some of your fellow initiates, leaving for the day to complete tasks, you could find work at the docks.
[] The Immortal Kitchens are home to meals of all manner. If you can afford them of course. (Immortal meals are worth 5 Silvers. This cost can be offset by bringing your own game.)
Special Events
[] The Qīnghé is back in port, Captain Yang and his crew are looking to explore some isolated coves along the sects' shores. Three Actions will be used on this encounter – Rewards (???) – Available for two plans.
Edit: Two hour moratorium on voting, please.
Though while Mehdi and Bai Ping also collect works of their own, your newest acquaintance is less inclined to follow the wishes of your Senior.
"It seems that my time could be better spent," Yan says quietly as he stares at the text left in the box. "I will greet you in the morning when I return." He tells you all, bowing quickly to the Senior, who does not acknowledge him, lost in her own meditations, before he marches out of the room, closing the door behind him.
He is not the only one who finds your Seniors instructions chafing. You hear Medhi fidgeting and making sounds of annoyance as he works, and a few minutes later you glance up as Mehdi closes the book he'd begun reading and leaves the room. His exit does not draw Senior Xiu from her meditations either and you and Ping are left to tend to your own work.
You've read some of the letters from Captain Yang and Shao Suyin, short little one sentence notes that you were able to parse through easily enough. The Travels of Li are written in a flowery prose, five words used when one could do the job.
It's difficult to understand.
That is until Senior Xiu rises from her meditations and sees that you have remained. She approaches and looks over your shoulder, scrunching her nose at certain sections of the text.
"Li was considered by many to be more concerned with their story than accurate record keeping, however her adventures hold more than a lick of truth."
The Senior flips through the page, before she points to a section.
Through groves and bush this traveller roamed, before they met a tribe, one who lived off the God's favour. A village of crimson, a people who no longer worked the land for food, their sustenance gained from their lords blessing. The eye of Hunter followed him to the edge of the forest and beyond though he never dared draw its gaze further beyond…
You know that gaze, you've felt it on you twice before and both in this past week.
You find it interesting, that you had not known the Hunter your whole life, and now you almost can't escape him.
"There is a Village to the Western Border that has been studied over recent decades," Senior Xiu tells you. "Their bargains with their God has changed their bodies irrevocably, they no longer felt thirst or hunger, surviving on life and qi from the God's blessing. This blessing is found in their children as well, even before they are of age to pay tribute."
"Though that devotion comes with a price." She continues. "They turned from other pursuits, addicted to the blessings of the god, seeking ever greater displays of prowess. In their strength, they offended many. In the end, they transgressed, although the records do not say how, and their blessings were withdrawn. Through The Travels of Li the sect was made aware of this God and the benefits and dangers of his blessing."
"I know this God," Lind tells her as he reads through the passage and how the traveller opted to never return to the grove. "One of the initiates introduced us on a hunt."
A shimmering lock of hair taps against Xiu's chin as she ponders your words with a glint of interest. "It could be that he hails from this very village himself, or he has come to know of this knowledge in other ways. Pursue the Path of Crimson or don't Lind Tallak, the God is considered fair, provided that the supplicant meets his expectations."
The Travels of Li 0/20 – Completion Roll
Insight + Lore Roll + Senior Xiu = 4+0+2 = 6d10
5 2 3 1 4 1 – No Success
4 6 2 8 9 2 – 2 Successes
5 3 10 7 3 8 – 4 Successes
9 6 9 10 8 4 – 5 Successes
The Travels of Li 11/20, Lore +1
Over the next few hours, with Senior Xiu's wisdom, though also with her impatience as you struggle with parts of the narrative you manage to make decent headway through the Travels of Li. The Crimson Hunter, the Shattered Empires to the West that Mehdi hails from. You read with rapt attention of the end of an Empire in one night. A story of arrogance. A failed ritual to empower the Emperor swallowing all within the Rituals borders into the Infernal Fires below this realm, a crater of fire and ash that raged to this day all that is left.
A continent to the East of this sect, far beyond this ocean home to all manner of beasts and monsters engages your senses. The author tells of Stalkers, invisible to the human eye, the only way you could identify them the telltale scent of blood. A scent one could only smell when they were already within striking distance. She weaves a tale of spiders the size of houses preying upon expedition members from the shadows, luring them into an early grave with the promise of treasure and riches, hypnotised by their webbing.
It is only as the early rays of the sun begin to creep through the window that you realise the time and Senior Xiu calls for the pair of you to finish your work for the day.
"We will meet each week and during this time I will provide you with training and guidance. Outside of those hours, your time is yours to do with as you see fit. I do not care what you choose to due during these hours, so long as what you choose to do leads to results in your trials."
You and Bai Ping glance at each other, before nodding in unison.
"Now follow me, I will take you to the heart of the sect and then return to my own quarters."
Over the next hour, your Senior takes you on a path deeper into the sect than you have ever been before. Past the compound which you and The Ghost had forged your pill. As you continue to walk, you see a mighty river, one where the runoff from the farther sect's mountains collects into a cataclysmic surge which thrums with power, a current that would take you as you are and crush you under its strength both physical and spiritual. As you walk alongside it you are greeted by members of the sect, some of whom strike up a conversation with Senior Xiu, others who congratulate the two of you on your admission.
Eventually, you reach the end of the roaring torrent, a sharp drop lies in front of you as the water throws itself off the edge, into a vast lake.
And the world below is beautiful.
You remember the first time your father had taken you high enough into the mountains that the two of you could turn back and you could look down upon your home and see it in its entirety. Huts almost buried under piles of snow, small black dots moving through the sea of white. Logs stacked high to keep the fires burning. You remember that it was the first time you had ever stopped to consider that those cold, harsh mountains were not just unforgiving. It was the first time you also found them to be beautiful.
The main compound is bordered with whitewashed walls of stone or brick, the height indicating they are more for show than defense – or more likely, the spiritual defences are more significant. Many buildings are within its boundaries, designed with understated-yet-beautiful spires and crenellations, but you notice from here that some have boarded up windows and show signs of disuse.
The sun glistens off the water, bathing the heart of the sect in the warm glow of morning. Wooden bungaloes surround the centre, and disciples wake with the morning, opening their doors, and walking to the heart of the sect.
The heart itself betrays the age of the sect. Buildings haphazardly stacked on top of each other from centuries of individual needs and wants have managed to form a chaotic superstructure that lies at the bottom. That heart sits at the centre of a cove which empties out into the lake and into the blue abyss beyond. Floating stones lead from the shoreline to the centre of the cove. You watch as a member of the sect glides from one stone to the other as he heads to the centre, passing by another coming the opposite way.
Along the shore a group are settled near the water, cycling the Qi of the world. Not far away from them a bevy of Crafters hammer away at steel under roared instructions. Warriors engage in combat, exchanging strikes at a speed far beyond your own as a circle watches on.
You don't know what to do first.
You have reached the Golden Reeds Sect! As such a host of opportunities are now welcome to you.
Plans will now be weekly, with days of rest factored in. Your actions have increased due to achieving Consecration.
Choose Six Actions – (Note: You will do two training actions with Senior Xiu each plan, these are already factored in)
Sect Actions
[] As a member of the Golden Reeds you are now able to access training and lessons from Elders and highly regarded Seniors of the Sect.
- [] Cultivation is the foundation of your path, lessons are held by the riverbanks of the great lake each morning.
- [] To cultivate is to wage war on the heavens themselves, and to wage war you should know how to fight. Martial Lessons can be found by the open fields.
- [] Crafters have spent their lives taking Qi rich materials and turning them into items with purpose, you will learn the basics of crafting.
- [] Pillmakers can earn lucrative contracts both inside and outside the sect. Being able to create your own pills is a boon that would aid your style of cultivation greatly.
- [] Survival skills are essential to succeeding in the Golden Reeds. How to track, create shelter, ward off beasts and thrive in the wilds are skills you know down to your very soul, but you could always learn something new, or at the very least, meet some like-minded individuals.
[] Job boards of the sect grant you the opportunity for contribution points, the more points you have the greater rewards you can receive. You will visit the job boards and see what tasks you can take on.
[] The sect is open to all manner of stores, you will look to peruse the wares of the main market.
[] You already have some skill in the art of cultivation, and you're recently found a Qi spot, go forth and cycle.
-[] Write in where and what you are cycling towards.
Social Actions
[] Bai Ping has been spending his time enthralled by the tomes given to you by your honored Senior. Perhaps by spending some time with him you can glean some of the additional knowledge he has learned.
[] Mehdi stormed out of the hut the other night and seems reticent to take part in any of Senior Xiu's training, perhaps you should speak to him and find out his concerns?
[] Your new acquaintance Yan is pleasant enough, though you can't say that you know him well beyond the charms on his person. Getting to know your new teammate can only be a boon.
[] Wu Chanying is getting to business immediately. She has suggested that the two of you meet and discuss the potential for an alliance of sorts in the first task.
[] Vijaya has sent a letter inviting you to a spar, curious to see if you have improved since your initial spar at the sect.
[] Liu Zhiqiang is seen in public arguing with a member of the sect, should you intervene and help him in his conflict?
[] Your new senior didn't seem all too pleased to make your acquaintance, perhaps by talking to her you can find some common ground.
[] Now that you have access to the sect proper, you should wander through and see who you run into. (???)
Personal Actions
[] Go and see what the sect has for you, explore to your hearts content (D100)
[] You are a hunter, above all else. Go and search for some quarry (Write in your search location).
-[]
[] Back in the port city there is always work for skilled labourers and you often see some of your fellow initiates, leaving for the day to complete tasks, you could find work at the docks.
[] The Immortal Kitchens are home to meals of all manner. If you can afford them of course. (Immortal meals are worth 5 Silvers. This cost can be offset by bringing your own game.)
Special Events
[] The Qīnghé is back in port, Captain Yang and his crew are looking to explore some isolated coves along the sects' shores. Three Actions will be used on this encounter – Rewards (???) – Available for two plans.
Edit: Two hour moratorium on voting, please.
Last edited:
Oh, let's call a 2 hour moratorium, I'll edit that in.
- Location
- United States of America
A couple of quick questions, I thought that the first task was forming groups, which we've already done. Is there more to the first task? Also, do we know what the alliance would be seeking to achieve?
THE MERCHANT GUILD AWAITS US LADS!
SELL BIG, BUY CHEAP NOW! MAX PROFITS WHEN TAKEN EARLY!
Get beat up, see Smol Birb!
- Location
- Earth
Honestly, I'd rather do Captain Yang's action in the next turn vote. I want to do a bunch of socials and get more settled into the Sect first.