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.
All voting is Plan Voting. Make a Plan if you want, or just vote on someone else's! You can vote on as many Plans as you like! Approval Voting, baby!
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There is a Voting Moratorium for TWELVE HOURS after this post. Feel free to create plans, but votes for plans will not be counted until that time has passed.
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Manuel walked into the cramped clan headquarters. The old table had been broken at an unfortunate meeting six years ago, apparently. Disagreements over Spirit Herb allocations between various vassals and Legionnaires. A new table had been procured, cast from good Spirit Bronze. It would still break if one of them hit it with intent, but it should survive a spirited - though restrained - banging to emphasise a point.
Around stood his Councillors, each a skilled and valuable piece on the gameboard, as well as one apprentice - the soon-to-be Elder of War,
Aikaterine Callista. They worked as a well-oiled machine, now, each used to Manuel's light hand. Alexios had been different, having had more time and energy to interfere with two Nascent Souls to be used at need.
He wondered briefly where the chairs had gone, but decided it would go against the mystique he was cultivating to ask. Moreover, if it was a prank... he felt a small piece of happiness well up in him. He had truly loved his pranks before Alexios had died, when he had time to conduct them.
"Report."
Manuel's voice groaned and clattered like brass pipes creaking, shattering, and pieces falling onto the ground. These Elders knew the process now.
First was
Euphrosyne Sarantapechos, a
Great Circle Core Formation Elder. She had broken through two years ago. 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. In the last twenty years she had spent much time developing her personal Spirit Herb garden, and had grown a Thousand-Year Knifeflower, allowing her to advance another step. To Manuel's mind, she was the first Core Formation Elder he had seen in two centuries who had even a slight chance of breaking through to Nascent Soul. A tremendous talent.
"
Archegetes. Obviously in terms of wealth things have been quite poor, what with the loss of tributes. We still have twenty full years of income saved, but it remains as it was. We have enough saved that I feel comfortable in our ability to face any one trial, though if I am to be honest, I think a greater concentration of wealth in the next sixty years to prepare us for the Trials would serve us well."
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 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. Of late you had fallen... not out, but there had been no time for one another.
"
Archegetes, I have reviewed the deal you have taken again for any possible loopholes. I have not seen any obvious ones, or dangerous ones. Three of my younger diplomatic disciples are also reviewing it - better to have more
seats of eyes. The Cannibals have begun withdrawing from the ceded regions and turning them over to us, "
Manuel quickly reviewed her words. Surely that wasn't intentional.
"Jingshen Clan has withdrawn entirely from the Cannibal Sect, and done considerably damage to mines, wells, lands, and so on in doing so. I would estimate the Cannibals have lost around 10% of their potential cultivation resources in the east for perhaps two hundred years. In addition to the 10% or so of potential resources in the lands ceded to us... they will be weaker for some time. Of course, you will be fulfilling your end of the deal shortly. It looks like we'll be sitting on a
throne of dead Cannibals before too long."
She smirked openly at him.
That pun was intentional, and terrible! Manuel kept his lips incredibly still, not acknowledging her at all. Still, he felt his control of Qi waver just the
tiniest amount. Kleisthenes laughed openly. He would get her back. He didn't know where he'd find time, or how he'd do it, or how many decades it'd be... but he'd get her back.
"We also need to discuss the administration of our new territories - "
(NB: Map is
here. You are gaining the area under Depopulated, as well as the Scarred Lands. The map will be updated after the below decision.)
[ ] Direct Rule - More expenditure, more investment. Significant short-term costs, but you will settle Clan cultivators into these regions, building new Arrays for defense and to help mortal populations. Grows the Clan core military strength significantly, and hardens the territory against invasion. In the long run, is likely to do the most in weakening the Cannibal Sect. Expensive, though, and will show the least monetary return.
Adds military strength and defensibility, as well as large Mortal Population increase. Increases Clan population directly, as well as Clan power relative to vassals. Costs wealth. Income-neutral.
[ ] Going Once, Going Twice - Auction territory (as well as give it out as rewards) off to various vassals and ally sects, or even wandering cultivators. They can serve as a buffer between you and the Cannibal Sect. More income from ongoing tributes, and the land sales will be converted to a significant short-term wealth boost. In the long run will serve as a buffer against invasion, but also a much easier target for the Cannibals.
Adds major wealth boost, moderate income boost. Increases Vassal and Ally populations, and decreases Clan power relative to vassals. Territory is considerably less defensible.
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. While he was your apprentice, you are currently somewhat estranged. Warmth has slowly been returning to his voice, though.
"
Archegetes. I have, at great cost and to the loss of quite a bit of wealth discovered what Jingshen Clan were bringing across the mountains. It is a
Grand Mountain Drill, a drill that can be expanded to the size of a small mountain and used to excavate mines en masse where veins of Spirit Stones are discovered. It will not increase their immediate wealth hugely, but will serve as perhaps an increase of an estimated 10-15% of income for their Clan. In the long term this bodes ill for their desire to remove us from the Scorpion Road, but shows they have fewer short-term ambitions."
"Furthermore, I have located Child Corpse Gulper. This has been a personal project of mine. You may pass along the details to Old Cannibal at your leisure."
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. Lately, he has been complaining about the foolishness of all the new disciples, though you can tell he is happier than he has been in decades.
"
Archegetes. Little to report. Numbers remain steadily growing, though we have faced some losses as Cannibals cross over the border to try and assault our cities. Their denuding of their own lands has come with consequences for us."
Lastly was
Ioannes Vatatzes, your third
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. His skin is rotting in places, and his beard is the only healthy part remaining. The Clone you made of him weakened him greatly, and the poison is now killing him with incredible rapidity.
Aikaterine Callista will need to take over in a few short decades - while competent, she is far younger and less experienced. She will represent a considerable downgrade to your warmaking capabilities.
"
Archegetes. I could countenance an invasion of the Cannibals, but I think that moment has passed."
He coughs, and shimmering silver blood comes out.
"Apologies. I am restraining my cultivation to minimise the effects of the poison on my lifespan. We are readied for war more generally, but I have concerns with the quality of our defenses against the Devil Bees. If they chose to strike, Hua Empire and Xin Kingdom would fall within a few short months. They are poor lands, true, but also our responsibility."
You hiss through your teeth 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.
[ ] 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. At best, you can seize minor territorial gains. This will worsen your relations, of course.
Loses Cultivators. Usually gains Income or Wealth, or both.
[ ] War (Write-in target) - Simply invade. Strike with all your might and seize territory. Kill cultivators. Requires your personal attention to prevent Nascent Souls simply obliterating your forces. Uses your personal Action for the turn. Unavailable this turn as you are hunting Child Corpse Gulper.
[ ] 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.
Increases Savings. Very high rolls may increase Income.
[ ] 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.
Minor costs.
[ ] Fortifying (Write-in territory, ally or vassal) - Spend Clan wealth and soldiers to build new fortifications against outside enemies. New Arrays, help train new cultivators in lesser Formations to defend their lands, and so on. Will also strengthen a vassal or ally if chosen, and increase relations with them.
Increases defenses in the chosen territory, ally, or vassal. Costs Wealth.
[ ] Raising Disciples - You need more cultivators. Spend wealth to raise more and more disciples to higher Realms.
Reduces Income, as you have more cultivators to upkeep. Probably the single biggest Action to increase Clan power.
[ ] Write-in
What will you do? (ACTION IS LOCKED THIS TURN - YOU ARE HUNTING CHILD CORPSE GULPER)
[ ] Hunt An Enemy (Write-In) - Why not? Hunt down enemies, see if you can kill someone. Usually used against an opposing Nascent Soul. Potentially very dangerous.
[ ] Weaken An Enemy (Write-In Faction) - Choose a faction, and use your Nascent Soul strength to simply sneak in and do damage. A little underhanded and shameful, but what do you care for the views of the Righteous Path? Potentially dangerous.
[ ] Assist A Faction (Write-in Faction) - Use your personal strength to assist an ally of some kind. Potentially dangerous.
[ ] 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
