Into that Vast and Unrelenting Darkness (40K Xeno Civilization Quest)
- Pronouns
- Viewer
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Shrine-Keeper Simulator Pt 4: Turn 1
The Bird
tEM IS GUD...RITER!
- Location
- In that den of villains and scum, OKLAHOMA
Your new home had seen better days, you noted. A four story pagoda located at the end of the village, outward going on the Tusk, the furthest mortal-made building on the titanic ivory, its rice-paper walls had all sorts of tears, and the ferroplastic panels that formed its roof were cracked and, in places, outright missing.
Walking along the cobbled passway, you shivered as you passed under the TekTorii Gate that led to the building. It was a strange sensation, one that you had never wholly gotten used to: by passing through the structure, you had symbolically agreed to adhere to the rules of the Shrine, causing a strange tingling in your soul as order found itself (lightly) imposed on you, your spirit and form increasing in synchronization.
Most daemons didn't notice, not until it was too late, and even many devils didn't realize that these gates, created by a .ARC, a vast post-mortal god-computer, did more than just serve as decoration. It was only your familiarity with ShrineTek that made you aware, and even then you weren't entirely sure about the method by which the TekTorii's accomplished this feat beyond it being some advanced form of techno-sorcery.
Surrounding the path was a field of grass with flowers lined with two rows of stone lanterns on either side of the cobbles, each lantern connected via a length of braided rope that had begun to fray. Off to the left, you noted a boxy, rectangular building. You could smell the scent of Oracle Stone: the Litheochamber, you presumed. The lack of an accompanying scent meant it was probably unoiled: very not good. To the right were a series of buildings, likely the lesser shrines and other locations of importance, such as the dance hall and sacred ritual pool. You were going to assume they were also more or less in not superb condition.
"I'm noticing a pattern," You dryly noted, causing Yaji's ears to fold against their head in embarrassment.
"S-sorry master, it's been a rough few months," The Tekket said, apologizing for the state of the shrine, mouth curled in dissatisfaction, presumably with their own efforts. "Every since Master Kajyyn, er…had his fall," The Tekket explained awkwardly, trying to figure out how to phrase 'accidentally dived off the tusk and turned themselves into a flatcake' in a professional manner, "I'm the only one whose been taking care of the place," He finished.
"Mmm, it is a bit much for one person," You agreed as the pair of you began ascending the pagoda steps: especially a person who was ultimately mostly untrained, you noted more privately. Major community shrines really needed a minimum of at least three talented keepers to function smoothly. Luckily for Yaji, you were worth at least seven.
Once you had ascended, Yaji would walk to the door to the shrine, pulling the sliding door open, allowing you to see the main shrines. The circular chamber held 12 individual TekShrines, creating a ring of sorts, a fairly common pattern with most major shrines. Upon each was some item symbolic of the spirits: on one, a flowering branch covered in pink blossoms. On another, a mirror formed from pure polished silver. A third yet contained an ancient blade, a long staff ending in an edged, bronze sword, long since having rusted to the point of being useless as a weapon. And so forth.
All hovering above the Shrine: anchors for the spirits and proxies used to give them offerings, even ones that lacked a physical presence to make offerings to, such as the Parliaments, spirits that consisted of living waveforms (generally) as opposed to the more solid state of matter most Vita occupied or the warp-plasm that formed the body of chaos-kin.
In the center was the Master Control Shrine for Pavva-Ganuk and, more crucially, the entirety of Gajaliath's Back as a region: an onyx colored monolith covered in calligraphic runes, sigils of the Functionary and invocations thereof. On it floated a ring of biometal: one that glowed with a strange blue light, shaped like a ram-horned snake devouring its own tail.
"That's Magg," Yaji explained. Ah. The Guardian, or at least it's body. Without the Keeper who Enshrined it and the supplications and rituals drying up, it likely returned to dormancy, not having enough power to maintain their manifestations. You noted with mild displeasure it's Shrine lacked a WarpTek portal: most likely when the old master had died, the Central Bureaucracy had removed it, assuming the place had ever possessed one to begin with.
"A metal elemental, I presume?" You asked, raising an eyebrow. That explained why the Bureaucracy had assigned you, you supposed.
"Er, no, not really. Serpent spirit would probably describe them better," Yaji noted, before giving a yawn. Hmm. Well, it wasn't quite as in your wheelhouse, but still manageable. At any rate, you quietly noted that either Yaji was running on very little sleep or had narcolepsy. Either way, it might be time to wrap this up so he didn't pass out on you.
You gave a theatrical yawn of your own: sleep was purely optional for you, but best provide an easy excuse. "Well, I'm rather tired. Why don't you show me to the sleeping quarters, Yari?" You asked, causing Yaji to nod.
"S-second floor, hold on." He clapped his hands, and from the ceiling descended a series of panels, hovering in the air and creating a staircase of sorts. The pair of you walked up, reaching the next story, a hallway of sorts dividing a series of paper-walled rooms. "Yours is at the end of the hall-way," He explained. "U-unless you want a different one, I mean-" The apprentice stammered. "The third door on the right and second door on the left are b-both empty, they're just not particularly large and I assumed you would prefer the master bedroom-"
"Excellent!" You chirped, cutting the nervous apprentice off: no sense in letting them catastrophize. "Well then, I shall retire for the evening: considering those bags under your eyes, you might do the same," You said pointedly, causing Yaji to give a dry swallow, before the Tekket bowed.
"Yes master. Good night master." Yaji said, before turning and retreating down the corridor a bit, to their own room. Giving a satisfied grin, you opened the door to your new quarters, taking a deep breath as you stepped within, taking in the ambiance. Sure, right now it was fairly sparse: just a bed roll, a few dressers, a mirror on the wall, and a small holo-terminal in the corner. But soon it would be a home worthy of a person of your stature.
…Now you just needed to figure out what the devil you were going to do for the next eight hours while Yaji slept. Most likely, another late night spent watching television.
Alright, welcome to turn 1 of Shrine Keeper Simulator. We've gone over your duties already: keep the peace, sustain the spirits, train Yaji, and enrich the village. You have 5 AP per turn to spend, plus an additional AP for Yaji. Each turn lasts a week, and you CAN double up on actions if you think it's something that'll require more time or effort. I want a plan format for this.
Please note that you don't want to turtle. Like seriously, I cannot stress this enough: if you spend all your time working on the shrine without exploring, making contacts with the other inhabitants of the region, and actually finding problems to solve, you will get a bad evaluation once the ten turns are up.
Most likely accompanied by a lot of people dying because you missed a problem in the region until it finally went critical.
Good luck!
SUGGESTED ACTION LIST
[ ] Familiarize Yourself with the Shrine: So far you had only seen the main shrine. It might do to familiarize yourself with the rest of its facilities, including locating the resident motive spirit as well as learning the names of all major spirits that called it home.
[ ] Reconsecrate the Grounds: The grounds could probably use a reconsecration now that a new Keeper had arrived: the ritual should improve the general health of the spirits in its area of effect.
[ ] Awaken Magg: The serpent spirit needed to be re-awoken if it was to fulfill its duties as Guardian, most likely through music and sustained offerings.
[ ] Repair Central Pagoda: The amicability of a spirit was heavily influenced by the quality of its surroundings. With the central pagoda in disrepair, it stood to reason they'd be less than pleased.
[ ] Construct Dark Portal: Really, no portal? This wasn't the 4200's any more: you'd have to spend some time constructing it, but there was no excuse for your shrine to not have one installed.
[ ] Order Bulk Cursite: You had a colleague on Naklis who worked in cursite processing. They could, if you wish, send you large amounts of cursite, purified or unpurified, for whatever purpose you might have.
-[ ] Specify: Purified or Raw Cursite. Former option will result in a slightly smaller delivery due to relative scarceness.
[ ] Train: A teachers work was never done. You could either tutor Yaji or else pursue self-improvement of your own.
-[ ] Specify skill and intended recipient: note that possessing a tutor with high ranks in a skill as well as high Education and Mind stats improves the result.
[ ] Explore Location: Gajaliath had numerous locations of interest: the Village of Pavva-Ganuk, Cauldron Lake, Djerd. Each with its own spirits and shrines, all likely requiring tending.
-[ ] Specify location. I'm not gonna draw up an entire list: if you've seen it in text, you can visit.
[ ] Check on the Shrine-Herd: Ergh, you didn't look forward to this. Herdbeasts couldn't stand devilkind, and unfortunately handling animals was one skill you had never mastered because of this.
[ ] Write In
(((())))
Gonna be a 4 hours moratorium on this one.
Walking along the cobbled passway, you shivered as you passed under the TekTorii Gate that led to the building. It was a strange sensation, one that you had never wholly gotten used to: by passing through the structure, you had symbolically agreed to adhere to the rules of the Shrine, causing a strange tingling in your soul as order found itself (lightly) imposed on you, your spirit and form increasing in synchronization.
Most daemons didn't notice, not until it was too late, and even many devils didn't realize that these gates, created by a .ARC, a vast post-mortal god-computer, did more than just serve as decoration. It was only your familiarity with ShrineTek that made you aware, and even then you weren't entirely sure about the method by which the TekTorii's accomplished this feat beyond it being some advanced form of techno-sorcery.
Surrounding the path was a field of grass with flowers lined with two rows of stone lanterns on either side of the cobbles, each lantern connected via a length of braided rope that had begun to fray. Off to the left, you noted a boxy, rectangular building. You could smell the scent of Oracle Stone: the Litheochamber, you presumed. The lack of an accompanying scent meant it was probably unoiled: very not good. To the right were a series of buildings, likely the lesser shrines and other locations of importance, such as the dance hall and sacred ritual pool. You were going to assume they were also more or less in not superb condition.
"I'm noticing a pattern," You dryly noted, causing Yaji's ears to fold against their head in embarrassment.
"S-sorry master, it's been a rough few months," The Tekket said, apologizing for the state of the shrine, mouth curled in dissatisfaction, presumably with their own efforts. "Every since Master Kajyyn, er…had his fall," The Tekket explained awkwardly, trying to figure out how to phrase 'accidentally dived off the tusk and turned themselves into a flatcake' in a professional manner, "I'm the only one whose been taking care of the place," He finished.
"Mmm, it is a bit much for one person," You agreed as the pair of you began ascending the pagoda steps: especially a person who was ultimately mostly untrained, you noted more privately. Major community shrines really needed a minimum of at least three talented keepers to function smoothly. Luckily for Yaji, you were worth at least seven.
Once you had ascended, Yaji would walk to the door to the shrine, pulling the sliding door open, allowing you to see the main shrines. The circular chamber held 12 individual TekShrines, creating a ring of sorts, a fairly common pattern with most major shrines. Upon each was some item symbolic of the spirits: on one, a flowering branch covered in pink blossoms. On another, a mirror formed from pure polished silver. A third yet contained an ancient blade, a long staff ending in an edged, bronze sword, long since having rusted to the point of being useless as a weapon. And so forth.
All hovering above the Shrine: anchors for the spirits and proxies used to give them offerings, even ones that lacked a physical presence to make offerings to, such as the Parliaments, spirits that consisted of living waveforms (generally) as opposed to the more solid state of matter most Vita occupied or the warp-plasm that formed the body of chaos-kin.
In the center was the Master Control Shrine for Pavva-Ganuk and, more crucially, the entirety of Gajaliath's Back as a region: an onyx colored monolith covered in calligraphic runes, sigils of the Functionary and invocations thereof. On it floated a ring of biometal: one that glowed with a strange blue light, shaped like a ram-horned snake devouring its own tail.
"That's Magg," Yaji explained. Ah. The Guardian, or at least it's body. Without the Keeper who Enshrined it and the supplications and rituals drying up, it likely returned to dormancy, not having enough power to maintain their manifestations. You noted with mild displeasure it's Shrine lacked a WarpTek portal: most likely when the old master had died, the Central Bureaucracy had removed it, assuming the place had ever possessed one to begin with.
"A metal elemental, I presume?" You asked, raising an eyebrow. That explained why the Bureaucracy had assigned you, you supposed.
"Er, no, not really. Serpent spirit would probably describe them better," Yaji noted, before giving a yawn. Hmm. Well, it wasn't quite as in your wheelhouse, but still manageable. At any rate, you quietly noted that either Yaji was running on very little sleep or had narcolepsy. Either way, it might be time to wrap this up so he didn't pass out on you.
You gave a theatrical yawn of your own: sleep was purely optional for you, but best provide an easy excuse. "Well, I'm rather tired. Why don't you show me to the sleeping quarters, Yari?" You asked, causing Yaji to nod.
"S-second floor, hold on." He clapped his hands, and from the ceiling descended a series of panels, hovering in the air and creating a staircase of sorts. The pair of you walked up, reaching the next story, a hallway of sorts dividing a series of paper-walled rooms. "Yours is at the end of the hall-way," He explained. "U-unless you want a different one, I mean-" The apprentice stammered. "The third door on the right and second door on the left are b-both empty, they're just not particularly large and I assumed you would prefer the master bedroom-"
"Excellent!" You chirped, cutting the nervous apprentice off: no sense in letting them catastrophize. "Well then, I shall retire for the evening: considering those bags under your eyes, you might do the same," You said pointedly, causing Yaji to give a dry swallow, before the Tekket bowed.
"Yes master. Good night master." Yaji said, before turning and retreating down the corridor a bit, to their own room. Giving a satisfied grin, you opened the door to your new quarters, taking a deep breath as you stepped within, taking in the ambiance. Sure, right now it was fairly sparse: just a bed roll, a few dressers, a mirror on the wall, and a small holo-terminal in the corner. But soon it would be a home worthy of a person of your stature.
…Now you just needed to figure out what the devil you were going to do for the next eight hours while Yaji slept. Most likely, another late night spent watching television.
Alright, welcome to turn 1 of Shrine Keeper Simulator. We've gone over your duties already: keep the peace, sustain the spirits, train Yaji, and enrich the village. You have 5 AP per turn to spend, plus an additional AP for Yaji. Each turn lasts a week, and you CAN double up on actions if you think it's something that'll require more time or effort. I want a plan format for this.
Please note that you don't want to turtle. Like seriously, I cannot stress this enough: if you spend all your time working on the shrine without exploring, making contacts with the other inhabitants of the region, and actually finding problems to solve, you will get a bad evaluation once the ten turns are up.
Most likely accompanied by a lot of people dying because you missed a problem in the region until it finally went critical.
Good luck!
SUGGESTED ACTION LIST
[ ] Familiarize Yourself with the Shrine: So far you had only seen the main shrine. It might do to familiarize yourself with the rest of its facilities, including locating the resident motive spirit as well as learning the names of all major spirits that called it home.
[ ] Reconsecrate the Grounds: The grounds could probably use a reconsecration now that a new Keeper had arrived: the ritual should improve the general health of the spirits in its area of effect.
[ ] Awaken Magg: The serpent spirit needed to be re-awoken if it was to fulfill its duties as Guardian, most likely through music and sustained offerings.
[ ] Repair Central Pagoda: The amicability of a spirit was heavily influenced by the quality of its surroundings. With the central pagoda in disrepair, it stood to reason they'd be less than pleased.
[ ] Construct Dark Portal: Really, no portal? This wasn't the 4200's any more: you'd have to spend some time constructing it, but there was no excuse for your shrine to not have one installed.
[ ] Order Bulk Cursite: You had a colleague on Naklis who worked in cursite processing. They could, if you wish, send you large amounts of cursite, purified or unpurified, for whatever purpose you might have.
-[ ] Specify: Purified or Raw Cursite. Former option will result in a slightly smaller delivery due to relative scarceness.
[ ] Train: A teachers work was never done. You could either tutor Yaji or else pursue self-improvement of your own.
-[ ] Specify skill and intended recipient: note that possessing a tutor with high ranks in a skill as well as high Education and Mind stats improves the result.
[ ] Explore Location: Gajaliath had numerous locations of interest: the Village of Pavva-Ganuk, Cauldron Lake, Djerd. Each with its own spirits and shrines, all likely requiring tending.
-[ ] Specify location. I'm not gonna draw up an entire list: if you've seen it in text, you can visit.
[ ] Check on the Shrine-Herd: Ergh, you didn't look forward to this. Herdbeasts couldn't stand devilkind, and unfortunately handling animals was one skill you had never mastered because of this.
[ ] Write In
(((())))
Gonna be a 4 hours moratorium on this one.
chellewalker
President of the Water Seeker Fan Club
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[] Plan: Get Our Bearings
-[] Dr. Hurriyeh
--[] Familiarize Yourself with the Shrine
--[] Construct Dark Portal
--[] Train (Yaji)
---[] MISC OCCULTISM
--[] Explore Location (1)
---[] Village of Pavva-Ganuk (1)
---[] Cauldron Lake
-[] Yaji
--[] Explore Location (2)
---[] Village of Pavva-Ganuk (2)
This feels like a good start to me. The village will probably have some idea of any issues, we get Yaji some basic training and the Dark Portal going, and we also check on Cauldron Lake.
-[] Dr. Hurriyeh
--[] Familiarize Yourself with the Shrine
--[] Construct Dark Portal
--[] Train (Yaji)
---[] MISC OCCULTISM
--[] Explore Location (1)
---[] Village of Pavva-Ganuk (1)
---[] Cauldron Lake
-[] Yaji
--[] Explore Location (2)
---[] Village of Pavva-Ganuk (2)
This feels like a good start to me. The village will probably have some idea of any issues, we get Yaji some basic training and the Dark Portal going, and we also check on Cauldron Lake.
I do not think that we should have Hurriyeh construct a dark portal until the shrine is fully repaired. The effects of the dark portals aren't entirely positive, and due to the shrine being in disrepair the spirits will be already less amicable; the wards over this area might also not be fully functioning. Let's get them nice and happy before we start feeding them warp energy. Therefore I propose that we repair the central pagoda instead. Next turn we can reconsecrate the grounds and awaken Magg, who we will probably want awake and able to banish corruption and fight off daemons before we create a dark portal.
I also think we should have Yaji check in on the shrine-herd. They may be in ill-health.
[] Plan: Restoration and Exploration
- [] Dr. Hurriyeh
-- [] Familiarize Yourself with the Shrine
-- [] Repair Central Pagoda
-- [] Reconsecrate the Grounds
-- [] Train (Yaji)
--- [] Protective Magicks
-- [] Explore Location
--- [] Village of Pavva-Ganuk
- [] Yaji
-- [] Check on the Shrine-Herd
I also think we should have Yaji check in on the shrine-herd. They may be in ill-health.
[] Plan: Restoration and Exploration
- [] Dr. Hurriyeh
-- [] Familiarize Yourself with the Shrine
-- [] Repair Central Pagoda
-- [] Reconsecrate the Grounds
-- [] Train (Yaji)
--- [] Protective Magicks
-- [] Explore Location
--- [] Village of Pavva-Ganuk
- [] Yaji
-- [] Check on the Shrine-Herd
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[] Plan: Unfuck The Shrine
-[ ] Familiarize Yourself with the Shrine:
-[ ] Reconsecrate the Grounds:
-[ ] Awaken Magg:
-[ ] Repair Central Pagoda:
-[] Explore Location
--[] Village of Pavva-Ganuk
-[ ] Check on the Shrine-Herd: (Yaji)
Much rather first focus on unfucking the shrine first to get back in working order before working on the wider region start inward then expand outward. The shrine in complete working order, guardian spirit awake again ect will be quite helpful in our wider efforts to unfuck the region. Also spend one action to explore the village, get to know the locals see the state of the nearby region.
-[ ] Familiarize Yourself with the Shrine:
-[ ] Reconsecrate the Grounds:
-[ ] Awaken Magg:
-[ ] Repair Central Pagoda:
-[] Explore Location
--[] Village of Pavva-Ganuk
-[ ] Check on the Shrine-Herd: (Yaji)
Much rather first focus on unfucking the shrine first to get back in working order before working on the wider region start inward then expand outward. The shrine in complete working order, guardian spirit awake again ect will be quite helpful in our wider efforts to unfuck the region. Also spend one action to explore the village, get to know the locals see the state of the nearby region.
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Fair point, I'll swap exploring Cauldron Lake for reconsecrating the grounds.
chellewalker
President of the Water Seeker Fan Club
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Not really a fan of the response to being told not to turtle is 2/3 plans that spend 5/6 AP turtleing. Yeah, fixing the shrine is important, but we were explicitly told it's not our only job. Dr. Hurriyeh is certified in operating a Dark Portal, and they made it clear in their dialogue that it's a key feature a shrine should have.
chellewalker
President of the Water Seeker Fan Club
- Pronouns
- She/Her
If over-focusing on work on the shrine isn't turtleing, what is it Bird went out of their way to warn us against? "if you spend all your time working on the shrine without exploring, making contacts with the other inhabitants of the region, and actually finding problems to solve, you will get a bad evaluation once the ten turns are up" is about as clear as it can get.
There are 60 AP to be spent total. My plan spends 4 of them on the shrine (training Yaji doesn't count); Woltaire's spends 5. The GM is clearly talking about the entire ten turn period, not telling us that we should space the tasks needed to make the shrine operational over five weeks because we should be petrified of 'turtling.' Obviously, once the shrine is operational we should spend all our efforts making contacts, training Yaji, and searching out problems--and both our plans do start on that anyway by exploring the village. Mine also starts training Yaji in protective rituals, which we know he needs to know more about.
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Based on what, and how do you propose we deal with any of these issues without having a functional shrine in the first place?
Also, a non-functional shrine is a major problem. The spirits the village depends on will start to weaken and become displeased, increasing the likelihood of them making trouble or being unable to help with spiritual problems.
chellewalker
President of the Water Seeker Fan Club
- Pronouns
- She/Her
[X] Plan: Get Our Bearings
-[X] Dr. Hurriyeh
--[X] Familiarize Yourself with the Shrine
--[X] Construct Dark Portal
--[X] Train (Yaji)
---[X] MISC OCCULTISM
--[X] Explore Location (1)
---[X] Village of Pavva-Ganuk (1)
---[X] Cauldron Lake
-[X] Yaji
--[X] Explore Location (2)
---[X] Village of Pavva-Ganuk (2)
This I think is the best way to get started. Dr. Hurriyeh's commentary makes it clear that a Dark Portal is incredibly important for the shrine (and the issues they had before have been mitigated already; it's why people need to be certified to operate them, which Dr. Hurriyeh is), starts training Yaji, and gets us familiar with the shrine. It also lets us meet the villagers with him (it'd be handy to have Yaji around to introduce us and pick up any anything strange we wouldn't normally catch) and explore Cauldron Lake (Bird made it clear we shouldn't be turtleing).
[X] Plan: Get Our Bearings without the Dark Portal
-[X] Dr. Hurriyeh
--[X] Familiarize Yourself with the Shrine
--[X] Reconsecrate the Grounds
--[X] Train (Yaji)
---[X] MISC OCCULTISM
--[X] Explore Location (1)
---[X] Village of Pavva-Ganuk (1)
---[X] Cauldron Lake
-[X] Yaji
--[X] Explore Location (2)
---[X] Village of Pavva-Ganuk (2)
The Dark Portal is incredibly important. However, I understand that a lot of people are still overly paranoid about them so here's an alt plan; reconsecrating the grounds is also important and will need to be done eventually, so getting it done instead be fine.
-[X] Dr. Hurriyeh
--[X] Familiarize Yourself with the Shrine
--[X] Construct Dark Portal
--[X] Train (Yaji)
---[X] MISC OCCULTISM
--[X] Explore Location (1)
---[X] Village of Pavva-Ganuk (1)
---[X] Cauldron Lake
-[X] Yaji
--[X] Explore Location (2)
---[X] Village of Pavva-Ganuk (2)
This I think is the best way to get started. Dr. Hurriyeh's commentary makes it clear that a Dark Portal is incredibly important for the shrine (and the issues they had before have been mitigated already; it's why people need to be certified to operate them, which Dr. Hurriyeh is), starts training Yaji, and gets us familiar with the shrine. It also lets us meet the villagers with him (it'd be handy to have Yaji around to introduce us and pick up any anything strange we wouldn't normally catch) and explore Cauldron Lake (Bird made it clear we shouldn't be turtleing).
[X] Plan: Get Our Bearings without the Dark Portal
-[X] Dr. Hurriyeh
--[X] Familiarize Yourself with the Shrine
--[X] Reconsecrate the Grounds
--[X] Train (Yaji)
---[X] MISC OCCULTISM
--[X] Explore Location (1)
---[X] Village of Pavva-Ganuk (1)
---[X] Cauldron Lake
-[X] Yaji
--[X] Explore Location (2)
---[X] Village of Pavva-Ganuk (2)
The Dark Portal is incredibly important. However, I understand that a lot of people are still overly paranoid about them so here's an alt plan; reconsecrating the grounds is also important and will need to be done eventually, so getting it done instead be fine.
[X] Plan: Restoration and Exploration
- [X] Dr. Hurriyeh
-- [X] Familiarize Yourself with the Shrine
-- [X] Repair Central Pagoda
-- [X] Reconsecrate the Grounds
-- [X] Train (Yaji)
--- [X] Protective Magicks
-- [X] Explore Location
--- [X] Village of Pavva-Ganuk
- [X] Yaji
-- [X] Check on the Shrine-Herd
This solves the immediate issue of the shrine being not fully functional (we can wait on waking back up the guardian spirit), while also making sure the shrine-herd isn't sick (these are living beings; they can get ill and die if not cared for properly) and making introductions and contacts in Pavva-Ganuk. If there's any major issues, they'll know about them and can point them out to us, and with a functional shrine we will be much more able to handle them.
To pre-empt objections that we should spend less time working in the shrine--we have, assuming our action points remain constant, 60 total. 4 (or 5, given that I want to awaken Magg next turn) is not that much and a nonfunctional shrine is a major problem. The spirits will weaken and some may even perish. Because the quality of the shrine affects their demeanor they may become angered at people of Pavva-Ganuk, and at Dr. Hurriyeh. They will not have the strength to help against spiritual threats. The village is simply more vulnerable with the shrine being in disrepair. Plus, since "familiarize yourself with the shrine" includes Hurriyeh introducing themselves to the major spirits in the area and they're useful contacts as well.
And honestly, trying to get the shrine to basic functionality relatively quickly makes more sense IC as well.
I definitely do not want to be installing a dark portal when the guardian spirit isn't awake, the spirits are weakened or annoyed, and the wards may not even be fully working. Even if you're qualified, the effects aren't wholly positive.
- [X] Dr. Hurriyeh
-- [X] Familiarize Yourself with the Shrine
-- [X] Repair Central Pagoda
-- [X] Reconsecrate the Grounds
-- [X] Train (Yaji)
--- [X] Protective Magicks
-- [X] Explore Location
--- [X] Village of Pavva-Ganuk
- [X] Yaji
-- [X] Check on the Shrine-Herd
This solves the immediate issue of the shrine being not fully functional (we can wait on waking back up the guardian spirit), while also making sure the shrine-herd isn't sick (these are living beings; they can get ill and die if not cared for properly) and making introductions and contacts in Pavva-Ganuk. If there's any major issues, they'll know about them and can point them out to us, and with a functional shrine we will be much more able to handle them.
To pre-empt objections that we should spend less time working in the shrine--we have, assuming our action points remain constant, 60 total. 4 (or 5, given that I want to awaken Magg next turn) is not that much and a nonfunctional shrine is a major problem. The spirits will weaken and some may even perish. Because the quality of the shrine affects their demeanor they may become angered at people of Pavva-Ganuk, and at Dr. Hurriyeh. They will not have the strength to help against spiritual threats. The village is simply more vulnerable with the shrine being in disrepair. Plus, since "familiarize yourself with the shrine" includes Hurriyeh introducing themselves to the major spirits in the area and they're useful contacts as well.
And honestly, trying to get the shrine to basic functionality relatively quickly makes more sense IC as well.
I definitely do not want to be installing a dark portal when the guardian spirit isn't awake, the spirits are weakened or annoyed, and the wards may not even be fully working. Even if you're qualified, the effects aren't wholly positive.
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ReaperofInterest
Herald of Disaster
[X] Plan: Get Our Bearings without the Dark Portal
Hmm...this plan seems like a good one to me. It makes progress on the shrine, and starts getting a good look around t see if we can spot any other potential issues. If we don't see anything major, then I'm fine with spending next turn really focusing on the shrine so we can get it taken care of.
Hmm...this plan seems like a good one to me. It makes progress on the shrine, and starts getting a good look around t see if we can spot any other potential issues. If we don't see anything major, then I'm fine with spending next turn really focusing on the shrine so we can get it taken care of.
[X] Plan: Get Our Bearings without the Dark Portal
I'm not waiting for shit to come for us when we have no idea what even those are, exploration for me.
I'm not waiting for shit to come for us when we have no idea what even those are, exploration for me.
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StarSingerBlue
Zenryoku Zenkai !
- Location
- The City of Lights
- Pronouns
- They/Them
[X] Plan: Restoration and Exploration
Yeah I agree with Cit here. We need a solid foundation first and Dark Portals are…unstable to say the least.
Yeah I agree with Cit here. We need a solid foundation first and Dark Portals are…unstable to say the least.
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