[X] Oku's Thrice Refined Armor + Upgrading Production Tools + Walking Fortresses = Increased crafting skill from using the Cosmic Forge
This makes the most sense to me. Take a free +skill training to crafting. That puts you at Master.
Ram Q2
Q2 Starting Clan Profile
Profit: -$17 per quarter
Reserves: $126
Status: 3 (Regional Power)
Prestige: 0.55 (Sad)
Stability: .75 (Shaky)
Note: I focused on your order vote last time but did not process Teo's non-vetoed orders. The totals are also updated to reflect corrections to my accounting.
Invest in caravans: in last report
Invest in training guards: -1 income, you have enough guards to staff the walking fortresses)
Secure new suppliers: Teo performed excellently here. With the exception of Heavenspan Water you currently have no supply shortages
Diversify by investing in Essence Crystals: The Matriarch used all the essence crystal stores and the new investments for her projects. The Cosmic Forge is hungry. Teo's efforts kept you from running out but there is no reserve.
Send a thoughtful gift and note to Lord Tlaloc: The note was sent, along with a rare white fire siren salamander. You have not yet received a response.
Teo's Orders:
- Send representatives to Lords in Thousand Rivers, Crystal Desert, Vast Swamp, and Turtle Islands
- Throw large dramatic charity events in Thousand Rivers, Crystal Desert, Vast Swamp, and Turtle Islands
- Establish Walking Fortress routes to trading hubs: 2 in Crystal Desert, 2 in Vast Swamp, 1 in Turtles Islands.
- Invest in vast quantities of Essence Crystals for the Matriarch's personal use
- Bulk purchase staples in Thousand Rivers to fill the Walking Fortresses
- Purge Tet loyalists from Sales
- Investigate rival clans in Thousand Rivers, Crystal Desert, Vast Swamp, and Turtle Islands
Decisions:
1. The Teo Investigation?
You resolved to fully investigate the Tet incident, including the possibility that he was framed. He seemed to believe it was a member of the family, but it could have been an outside rival. The evidence still points most firmly at him. Because you have some suspicions about your mother and Teo, you cannot rely on their agents. How do you want to proceed?
[] Individual Efforts
You are not an investigator. At the moment you lack the specialized skills and techniques to divine the truth any better than a mortal. On the other hand, you're very talented and you could devise some treasures to help. You can also trust yourself completely. If you choose this you will also have to spend personal actions to see any progress in the investigation.
[] Outside Help
Hire a private investigator. They will be a specialist with a good reputation. You will need to give them access to sensitive information about your clan and the incident if you want them to make any progress. It's possible, but unlikely, that they could be corrupt. This will cost -$1 income until it's resolved.
[] Recruit your own agents
Look for young, talented, loyal followers in the clan that don't belong to either your mother or Teo. You're starting from zero here, so it will take a bit of time before they're any match for the other intelligence networks in the clan. This is the most sustainable solution but you risk recruiting incompetent operators or double agents.
[] Write in
2. Iron Tribulation?
Q3 is the Iron Tribulation Tournament. An event hosted by Duke Huitzilopochtli for the finest warriors at Perfect or below to show off their skills. It features a number of challenges culminating in a single elimination battle. It is not a battle to the death, but people have died accidently before. It happens every five years. Oku would like to participate as the representative for your clan and she would like time off to focus on cultivation and training. She wishes to reach Perfect before it begins.
[] You need her here
Oku is your honor guard and a rival could strike at any time. If you plan to reforge your core, you will be vulnerable without her. Even if you don't reforge, she is the only member of your clan strong enough to fight beside you.
[] She can have next quarter off
Don't give her time to train but do let her attend. She doubts she'll get far unless she's at Perfect but since you aren't a warrior or noble clan, any success will be impressive and any failure would be excusable.
[] Go with your blessing
She wants to go, so let her. She'll be happy about it and a good showing in the tournament will increase the clan's prestige.
[] Go with your complete support
She has great armor, but what about a new spear? Training aids? A pile of elixirs to clear her mind and let her train without rest? If this wins there will be a follow up vote to determine how much you spend. This will give her the best chance to actually win.
3. The Two Teos?
You haven't met Teo's new clone yet. Part of Chachi doesn't really want to. He has all the memories and abilities of your brother, but he now works with the full knowledge that he will die in one year. Your real brother also shows even greater signs of fatigue, even age. He still has many hundreds of years left in his life, but the elixir took a clear toll on him. What do you want to do?
[] Research how to save the clone
Two Teo's would be a huge asset! It would also make you feel a lot better to not watch your brother, even if he's just a perfect copy, die. Thus far no one has figured out a way to extend the life of an elixir clone, their false core just burns out. But, you are an expert in reforging cores and you are very talented. Perhaps there is a way? The expense will be great and this will commit a personal action slot. You can vote for both this and 'research how to help Teo Prime recover' if you're willing to commit to twice the expense and using all of your free actions.
[] Research how to help Teo Prime recover
There are examples in history of people restoring a damaged core and extending the lifeline of a Perfect cultivator. Most of those examples involved a saint intervening, but that still proves it's theoretically possible. You are an expert in this type of cultivation, you own foundation gives you true immortality so long as you keep reforging your core. You are confident that with enough expense and effort you can repair the damage. The expense will be great and this will commit a personal action slot. You can vote for both this and 'research how to save the clone' if you're willing to commit to twice the expense and using all of your free actions.
[] Leave it alone
Teo made his sacrifice for the good of the clan. You can honor that by focusing your efforts on the clan, as he is.
Personal Actions
You have 5 personal actions a quarter. Currently three are locked by "I can learn." Your brother is monopolizing much of your time. Please note that Decision 3 may commit personal actions.
Locked
[X] Charm Partners
[X] Train Etiquette
[X] Train Intrigue
Self-Improvement
[] Reforge your Core x10
Spend $5 and 10 weeks reforging your core. This will leave you vulnerable this quarter, so duels and other dangerous actions are inadvisable. You cannot pursue other cultivation based actions when you Reforge your core.
[] Acclimate to Diamond Spirit
Perform special meditations to reduce your spiritual corruption and prepare for the next step. This action and simple time spent in Diamond Spirit will reduce the risk of taking Diamond Mind or Diamond Body.
[] Diamond Body
Merge your body with Diamond. The Merging phase is marked by sudden bursts of power and then time spent acclimating. It is possible to ignore the acclimation periods. The faster you push through Transformation the higher your risks. Most people who rush their Merge become mad abominations, but you are an incredible talent. Surely it won't happen to you?
[] Diamond Mind
Merge your mind with Diamond. This has the same risks as Diamond Body.
[] Train a Skill (write in the skill)
Skills names are free-form. The more skilled Chachi is in an area the better she will perform in the narrative. They will add bonuses to relevant actions if I feel the need to roll.
[] Practice the Forge
You have only scratched the surface of the Forge's potential. Spend time gathering Essence and Teotl and then experimenting with what your Mastery technique can do. The 9999 Revelations Meditation will help you come up with new ideas. This will produce useful treasures as a byproduct but also waste resources on failed experiments.
[] Copy with the Forge
Use the Forge to reproduce rare treasures. You will develop your Mastery technique more slowly, but you will produce many useful items. This is one way to prepare for the beast lands.
[] Develop another Mastery Technique (describe what you want, write in the pillar techniques you want to use)
Developing Mastery Techniques is difficult, but the 9999 Revelations Meditations will help keep you on the right track. Mastery Techniques must match thematically with your Foundation and Pillar techniques.
[] Write in
Clan Work
[] Look for New Opportunities
Your father spent much of his time as Patriarch investing in new materials, recipes, and trading partners. Do the same. Will probably get you nothing, but might provide massive benefits.
[X] Charm Partners
Re-affirm existing business relationships. Make gifts, go to meetings, attend parties. Could increase prestige, stability, or even income if you do well.
[] Make Money
The Forge can make a lot of money if you spend the time to man it. This is similar to Copy with the Forge but the Clan is buying the materials and you are mass producing Treasures for sale, not keeping them for yourself.
[] Build Infrastructure
Instead of making things for sale, make things to help the clan grow, like flying armored caravans instead of wagons. This will drain money from your reserves, but should improve your chances of expanding successfully and improve income.
[] Oversight
Personally check up on your employees and solve internal problems. Should increase stability and you might head off crises before they start. Being personally involved in the Tet investigation counts as oversight.
[] Write in
Voting! This is your big schedule vote for the quarter. Just put everything in a plan. Remember you should have Decisions, Orders (all write in, you can also veto or modify Teo's orders), and Actions.
