Year 1 - Breaking Through!
- Location
- Straya
Seven High-Grade Spirit Stones.
Manuel sighed. This was a fortune by any measure. Normally wasting wealth like this would be a calamity for the Clan. Indeed, until last year he was happy with his lifespan, assuming he might reach mid Nascent Soul by the end of his life. With his talent, why waste wealth on him? No, he was better used serving as an adviser, and as a useful assistant to the true Archegetes, a duty he had fulfilled with pleasure. Sometimes he even served as Clan Head while old Alexios was away, administering this and that, seeking to wound or cripple their enemies, slowing down the constant fall of the Golden Devil Clan.
Work he had enjoyed for the last seven hundred years or so. Of course, when he he had risen to Nascent Soul, there had been three elders, and the territory held had still included some of the mountains, as well as much more of the desert. The Battle Blood Cannibal Sect had been far weaker then, and his tasks had mostly been to serve as a useful backup, a failsafe option to assist other Nascent Souls in escaping from dangerous encounters, or serving as a Dao Protector for more valuable juniors.
He chuckled wryly. Last year, the Hundred-Year Trials came to them once again. Everyone knew the rules. Qi Gathering against Qi Gathering, Foundation Building against Foundation Building, Core Formation against Core Formation. Numbers and traps didn't matter, but try and act against those in a realm below yours... Elder Alexios hadn't cared, driven by fear to save his dying grandson.
An amulet flashed. Manuel had been there to watch over him, to assist Alexios in escaping. He didn't even see the attack that took Alexios's life. He had been Manuel's master when Manuel began the path of cultivation. His confidante and over time best friend, for nearly fifteen hundred years.
Now Alexios was dead.
Manuel focused harder. Breaking through was easy enough. He could have done it a century ago, but the increase in resource consumption had not been justified. Now, with Alexios dead and the other Sects and Clans on their doorstep... He was risking backlash, doing this so quickly.
He smiled, and waved a hand. A complex formation arose, channeling the spirit energy into him more efficiently. It would drain the Clan reserves, but it would be worth it. Without a mid stage Nascent Soul, they would fall too fast, too soon.
It was a mere two years later that he stepped through. A small crackle of Heaven's lightning, reminding him of the eternal threat that Heaven presented. An angry thundercloud leaving, Heaven unable to act at this moment. His strength rose, and he was satisfied.
He had neglected the Clan for some time, but it was worth it. They were... well, not safe. But at least safe in this moment, the danger had been pushed back. Moss had grown on him while he cultivated, the green patina of his skin covered by an even greener moss. As he stood and shook, the moss fell off, clumps littering the ground.
His secluded cultivation had ended. Now was the time to act.
He stepped into the air, ascending up into the sky as another man might climb stairs. He looked over the core of the clan, the ancient buildings forged from desert sand and Spirit Clay, and towards an unassuming building. Small, squat, and grey, the runic arrays carved on it were invisible to the naked eye, even for a cultivator of his level. Yet he knew the arrays there were carved thousands of times in impossibly small script, serving as the core of the Clan's defenses.
This was the Clan Hall - as outsiders would call it. In older terms, it was the Optimatoi Koinon.
He flew over, ensuring his speed did not trigger any automatic defenses. When he had set them up, others had argued to make the defenses contingent on a token or a bloodline detection, ensuring that clan members would not be attacked. Manuel had disagreed. Better to have a hundred traps built in that only Clan members would know about, so those faking the tokens or using methods to falsify the Blood of Bronze would still be caught.
He felt he had been justified in this, catching seventeen infiltrators in a mere three hundred years.
As he set down, he felt the pressure of the Bronze Purity Array in the doorway on him, pushing down, savaging those without the true bloodline. His bloodline was strong enough, though, and it was mere pressure, not death. He walked through.
The Five Elders of the Clan stood there, having felt his breakthrough and immediately gathering. Good.
--------------
So. There are basically three Mechanics in this quest.
(1) Choices. Your Clan Council will ask you to make a call on something. Mostly they won't do this - they're competent enough to handle things on their own, but sometimes they will. You'll see 0-2 of these per turn, on average. They're usually pretty straight-up binary choices.
(2) Focuses. You choose in general what the Clan should focus on for the next 20 years. Building up for war? Training new disciples? Carving more arrays? More trade? Focuses don't prevent you from doing everything else, it's more 'here's the one thing we should really get done'. Focuses are mainly mediated by your personal skill levels and specialities.
(3) Actions. What you, personally, do. Usually mediated by skills, but often by Cultivation level - especially when it comes to combat. You can always Write In Actions. In fact, writing in more complex and well-thought out Actions will positively increase your chances of success.
-------------
He looked them over.
"Report. I must know where we stand."
First was Euphrosyne Sarantapechos, a Late Core Formation Elder. She was Stratopedarches, or in more common terms, the Elder of Administration. To her fell the duties of managing mines, herbs, cities, camps - all manner of resources flowed through her hands. You followed her around for five years sixty years ago, constantly stalking her to ensure there was no corruption. You doubt she identified you, and in that time her administrative skills were both excellent and without corruption.
"Archegetes, congratulations on breaking through to mid Nascent Soul. This has alleviated some of my worries. We have ten full years of income saved - in part this is due to being able to recover wealth from the Hundred-Year Trials even as we lost so many. Our mines are in good order, and our vassals seem content. More tribute could be levied without too much grumbling now you have broken through - if you wish it, we can send missives to our various vassals and territorial allies announcing your breakthrough, inviting them to a celebration. Such a thing would invariably invite significant gifts."
[ ] Hold Party - Invite your vassals and territorial allies to a celebration of your breakthrough. This demonstrates your power and will invite major gifts as various powers in your territory jockey for your favour. It will cause some minor discontent, though, and take up a few months of valuable cultivating time.
[ ] Don't
Second was Kleisthenes Sarantapechos, a Mid Core Formation Elder. Euphrosyne's twin sister, though less talented in cultivation. She cultivated a rare Yang attribute technique, and went by a male name, and wore a male body to aid in her cultivation. For her, if she had not cultivated her Yang technique - she never would have risen into Core Formation. Such a thing was uncommon among your Clan, but not unknown. She was not prideful, and did not demand to be called Fairy, but those juniors foolish enough to call her a man had often found themselves given latrine cleaning missions for a few years until they learned to respect the Clan Elders. She is the Hetaireiarches, or in common terms, the Elder of Diplomacy. To her fell the duties of managing external powers and other Nascent Souls. She often complained about her lack of talent, and you were reasonable friends, having some commonality on this issue.
"Archegetes, I share my sister's congratulations. My current issue is that of negotiating trade agreements with the Jingshen Clan, as well as encroachments on our territory by the Battle Blood Cannibal Sect. The various mountain powers have remained quiet for the time being."
Third was Nikephoros Theophylaktos, a Great Circle Core Formation Elder. He is a simple man to all appearances, speaking little. He is the Parakoimomenos, or in common terms, the Elder of Intrigue. You had trained him personally, and found his skills acceptable. Previously you held his position, so he is admittedly new to the task, though he had been your assistant for almost a century. To him falls the duties of espionage, sabotage, and assassination.
"Archegetes. Nothing of major importance for the time being. Of minor importance - The Battle Blood Cannibal Sect has dedicated more forces to subduing the Oasis Rebels. Jingshen Jian, the third son of Old Jingshen in is conflict with his eldest brother. Hong Xuan Clan's Sacred Sparrow was killed. Peng Kingdom's Third Prince killed his father and ascended the throne. He has kept to our injunctions on the treatment of mortals so far."
Fourth came Staurakios Palaiologos, a Late Core Formation Elder. He is Chartoularios Tou Kanikleiou, or in simpler terms, the Master of Disciples. He picks out good seeds, gives training and assistance, and manages the core of the Clan Contribution Board for Qi Condensation and Foundation Building disciples in times of peace.
"Archegetes. I am training new disciples, but it will take time. Current estimations - if our income does not waver we should be able to regain approximately nine-tenths of our previous strength before the next Hundred-Year Trials. This is admittedly worse than normal, but the loss of the previous Elder has done us grievous damage."
Lastly was Ioannes Vatatzes, your second Great Circle Core Formation Elder. He is Protostrator, leader of your armies. When the time comes to gather up into formations and strike at enemies, or defend your cities, it is he who organises them, leads them, and manages the Clan Contribution Board to ensure the correct tasks get done. He is completely bald, with a beard down to his green-tinged waist. He is very vain about his beard, though, and regularly cleanses off the patina to ensure it is bright and bronzed.
"Archegetes. Our losses in the past Trial were grievous. We are in no shape for an offensive war in the next twenty years. I estimate it will be between forty and sixty years before we can entertain major incursions on enemy territory, unless we focus on our warmaking abilities specifically."
You click your tongue and think.
What should the Clan focus on?
[ ] Building Bridges (Write-in target) - You should make more allies. Choose a target on the map and aim to have their relations with you increased. Give gifts, exchange assistance, aim for strategic marriages.
[ ] Intrigue (Write-in target) - You should learn about another clan entirely. Spend Spirit Stones like water in the plains and find out everything you can. Strengths. Weaknesses, places to strike, rebels, and so on and so forth.
[ ] Increasing Wealth - More trade, more mines, more growth. Aim to find more Spirit Stones, tax more from traders, whatever works to increase your Clan Wealth.
[ ] Training Soldiers - Raising Disciples to higher Realms is all well and good, but training them to be perfect members of Formations is better. Ensure your Clan is trained and ready for war. Your readiness to go to war will increase significantly, though this fades over time.
[ ] Raising Disciples - You need more cultivators. Spend wealth to raise more and more disciples to higher Realms.
[ ] Raiding (Write-in target) - Better to weaken an enemy. Send teams of cultivators to go raid an enemy for resources and to kill them where possible. Minor conflicts, with minor rewards. This will worsen your relations, of course.
[ ] Write-in
What will you do?
[ ] Tour Your Vassals and Allies - Why not? Spend a little time in each vassal, each ally. Ensure they feel your strength. A little dangerous, but with your arrays watching over you, you should be fine. Increases your relations.
[ ] Hunt for a Disciple - Look for someone to personally raise. While time-consuming and expensive, a Disciple you have personally raised is one of the most trustworthy people imaginable.
[ ] Grand Theft Spirit Stones (Write-in) - Choose a faction, and use your Nascent Soul strength to simply sneak in and steal a large quantity of resources. A little underhanded and shameful, but what do you care for the views of the Righteous Path? Increases wealth.
[ ] Lecturing - You can simply lecture your many juniors on cultivation. Spend your time helping them grow, using less resources and ensuring better growth for the Clan.
[ ] Write-in
Manuel sighed. This was a fortune by any measure. Normally wasting wealth like this would be a calamity for the Clan. Indeed, until last year he was happy with his lifespan, assuming he might reach mid Nascent Soul by the end of his life. With his talent, why waste wealth on him? No, he was better used serving as an adviser, and as a useful assistant to the true Archegetes, a duty he had fulfilled with pleasure. Sometimes he even served as Clan Head while old Alexios was away, administering this and that, seeking to wound or cripple their enemies, slowing down the constant fall of the Golden Devil Clan.
Work he had enjoyed for the last seven hundred years or so. Of course, when he he had risen to Nascent Soul, there had been three elders, and the territory held had still included some of the mountains, as well as much more of the desert. The Battle Blood Cannibal Sect had been far weaker then, and his tasks had mostly been to serve as a useful backup, a failsafe option to assist other Nascent Souls in escaping from dangerous encounters, or serving as a Dao Protector for more valuable juniors.
He chuckled wryly. Last year, the Hundred-Year Trials came to them once again. Everyone knew the rules. Qi Gathering against Qi Gathering, Foundation Building against Foundation Building, Core Formation against Core Formation. Numbers and traps didn't matter, but try and act against those in a realm below yours... Elder Alexios hadn't cared, driven by fear to save his dying grandson.
An amulet flashed. Manuel had been there to watch over him, to assist Alexios in escaping. He didn't even see the attack that took Alexios's life. He had been Manuel's master when Manuel began the path of cultivation. His confidante and over time best friend, for nearly fifteen hundred years.
Now Alexios was dead.
Manuel focused harder. Breaking through was easy enough. He could have done it a century ago, but the increase in resource consumption had not been justified. Now, with Alexios dead and the other Sects and Clans on their doorstep... He was risking backlash, doing this so quickly.
He smiled, and waved a hand. A complex formation arose, channeling the spirit energy into him more efficiently. It would drain the Clan reserves, but it would be worth it. Without a mid stage Nascent Soul, they would fall too fast, too soon.
It was a mere two years later that he stepped through. A small crackle of Heaven's lightning, reminding him of the eternal threat that Heaven presented. An angry thundercloud leaving, Heaven unable to act at this moment. His strength rose, and he was satisfied.
He had neglected the Clan for some time, but it was worth it. They were... well, not safe. But at least safe in this moment, the danger had been pushed back. Moss had grown on him while he cultivated, the green patina of his skin covered by an even greener moss. As he stood and shook, the moss fell off, clumps littering the ground.
His secluded cultivation had ended. Now was the time to act.
He stepped into the air, ascending up into the sky as another man might climb stairs. He looked over the core of the clan, the ancient buildings forged from desert sand and Spirit Clay, and towards an unassuming building. Small, squat, and grey, the runic arrays carved on it were invisible to the naked eye, even for a cultivator of his level. Yet he knew the arrays there were carved thousands of times in impossibly small script, serving as the core of the Clan's defenses.
This was the Clan Hall - as outsiders would call it. In older terms, it was the Optimatoi Koinon.
He flew over, ensuring his speed did not trigger any automatic defenses. When he had set them up, others had argued to make the defenses contingent on a token or a bloodline detection, ensuring that clan members would not be attacked. Manuel had disagreed. Better to have a hundred traps built in that only Clan members would know about, so those faking the tokens or using methods to falsify the Blood of Bronze would still be caught.
He felt he had been justified in this, catching seventeen infiltrators in a mere three hundred years.
As he set down, he felt the pressure of the Bronze Purity Array in the doorway on him, pushing down, savaging those without the true bloodline. His bloodline was strong enough, though, and it was mere pressure, not death. He walked through.
The Five Elders of the Clan stood there, having felt his breakthrough and immediately gathering. Good.
--------------
So. There are basically three Mechanics in this quest.
(1) Choices. Your Clan Council will ask you to make a call on something. Mostly they won't do this - they're competent enough to handle things on their own, but sometimes they will. You'll see 0-2 of these per turn, on average. They're usually pretty straight-up binary choices.
(2) Focuses. You choose in general what the Clan should focus on for the next 20 years. Building up for war? Training new disciples? Carving more arrays? More trade? Focuses don't prevent you from doing everything else, it's more 'here's the one thing we should really get done'. Focuses are mainly mediated by your personal skill levels and specialities.
(3) Actions. What you, personally, do. Usually mediated by skills, but often by Cultivation level - especially when it comes to combat. You can always Write In Actions. In fact, writing in more complex and well-thought out Actions will positively increase your chances of success.
-------------
He looked them over.
"Report. I must know where we stand."
First was Euphrosyne Sarantapechos, a Late Core Formation Elder. She was Stratopedarches, or in more common terms, the Elder of Administration. To her fell the duties of managing mines, herbs, cities, camps - all manner of resources flowed through her hands. You followed her around for five years sixty years ago, constantly stalking her to ensure there was no corruption. You doubt she identified you, and in that time her administrative skills were both excellent and without corruption.
"Archegetes, congratulations on breaking through to mid Nascent Soul. This has alleviated some of my worries. We have ten full years of income saved - in part this is due to being able to recover wealth from the Hundred-Year Trials even as we lost so many. Our mines are in good order, and our vassals seem content. More tribute could be levied without too much grumbling now you have broken through - if you wish it, we can send missives to our various vassals and territorial allies announcing your breakthrough, inviting them to a celebration. Such a thing would invariably invite significant gifts."
[ ] Hold Party - Invite your vassals and territorial allies to a celebration of your breakthrough. This demonstrates your power and will invite major gifts as various powers in your territory jockey for your favour. It will cause some minor discontent, though, and take up a few months of valuable cultivating time.
[ ] Don't
Second was Kleisthenes Sarantapechos, a Mid Core Formation Elder. Euphrosyne's twin sister, though less talented in cultivation. She cultivated a rare Yang attribute technique, and went by a male name, and wore a male body to aid in her cultivation. For her, if she had not cultivated her Yang technique - she never would have risen into Core Formation. Such a thing was uncommon among your Clan, but not unknown. She was not prideful, and did not demand to be called Fairy, but those juniors foolish enough to call her a man had often found themselves given latrine cleaning missions for a few years until they learned to respect the Clan Elders. She is the Hetaireiarches, or in common terms, the Elder of Diplomacy. To her fell the duties of managing external powers and other Nascent Souls. She often complained about her lack of talent, and you were reasonable friends, having some commonality on this issue.
"Archegetes, I share my sister's congratulations. My current issue is that of negotiating trade agreements with the Jingshen Clan, as well as encroachments on our territory by the Battle Blood Cannibal Sect. The various mountain powers have remained quiet for the time being."
Third was Nikephoros Theophylaktos, a Great Circle Core Formation Elder. He is a simple man to all appearances, speaking little. He is the Parakoimomenos, or in common terms, the Elder of Intrigue. You had trained him personally, and found his skills acceptable. Previously you held his position, so he is admittedly new to the task, though he had been your assistant for almost a century. To him falls the duties of espionage, sabotage, and assassination.
"Archegetes. Nothing of major importance for the time being. Of minor importance - The Battle Blood Cannibal Sect has dedicated more forces to subduing the Oasis Rebels. Jingshen Jian, the third son of Old Jingshen in is conflict with his eldest brother. Hong Xuan Clan's Sacred Sparrow was killed. Peng Kingdom's Third Prince killed his father and ascended the throne. He has kept to our injunctions on the treatment of mortals so far."
Fourth came Staurakios Palaiologos, a Late Core Formation Elder. He is Chartoularios Tou Kanikleiou, or in simpler terms, the Master of Disciples. He picks out good seeds, gives training and assistance, and manages the core of the Clan Contribution Board for Qi Condensation and Foundation Building disciples in times of peace.
"Archegetes. I am training new disciples, but it will take time. Current estimations - if our income does not waver we should be able to regain approximately nine-tenths of our previous strength before the next Hundred-Year Trials. This is admittedly worse than normal, but the loss of the previous Elder has done us grievous damage."
Lastly was Ioannes Vatatzes, your second Great Circle Core Formation Elder. He is Protostrator, leader of your armies. When the time comes to gather up into formations and strike at enemies, or defend your cities, it is he who organises them, leads them, and manages the Clan Contribution Board to ensure the correct tasks get done. He is completely bald, with a beard down to his green-tinged waist. He is very vain about his beard, though, and regularly cleanses off the patina to ensure it is bright and bronzed.
"Archegetes. Our losses in the past Trial were grievous. We are in no shape for an offensive war in the next twenty years. I estimate it will be between forty and sixty years before we can entertain major incursions on enemy territory, unless we focus on our warmaking abilities specifically."
You click your tongue and think.
What should the Clan focus on?
[ ] Building Bridges (Write-in target) - You should make more allies. Choose a target on the map and aim to have their relations with you increased. Give gifts, exchange assistance, aim for strategic marriages.
[ ] Intrigue (Write-in target) - You should learn about another clan entirely. Spend Spirit Stones like water in the plains and find out everything you can. Strengths. Weaknesses, places to strike, rebels, and so on and so forth.
[ ] Increasing Wealth - More trade, more mines, more growth. Aim to find more Spirit Stones, tax more from traders, whatever works to increase your Clan Wealth.
[ ] Training Soldiers - Raising Disciples to higher Realms is all well and good, but training them to be perfect members of Formations is better. Ensure your Clan is trained and ready for war. Your readiness to go to war will increase significantly, though this fades over time.
[ ] Raising Disciples - You need more cultivators. Spend wealth to raise more and more disciples to higher Realms.
[ ] Raiding (Write-in target) - Better to weaken an enemy. Send teams of cultivators to go raid an enemy for resources and to kill them where possible. Minor conflicts, with minor rewards. This will worsen your relations, of course.
[ ] Write-in
What will you do?
[ ] Tour Your Vassals and Allies - Why not? Spend a little time in each vassal, each ally. Ensure they feel your strength. A little dangerous, but with your arrays watching over you, you should be fine. Increases your relations.
[ ] Hunt for a Disciple - Look for someone to personally raise. While time-consuming and expensive, a Disciple you have personally raised is one of the most trustworthy people imaginable.
[ ] Grand Theft Spirit Stones (Write-in) - Choose a faction, and use your Nascent Soul strength to simply sneak in and steal a large quantity of resources. A little underhanded and shameful, but what do you care for the views of the Righteous Path? Increases wealth.
[ ] Lecturing - You can simply lecture your many juniors on cultivation. Spend your time helping them grow, using less resources and ensuring better growth for the Clan.
[ ] Write-in
Last edited: