At the far edges of the Eternal Empire, the Sect of Riven Stone serves as the military and cultural heart of the Province of Shattered Peaks. The time has come for a new crop of cultivators to enter into the ranks of the outer sect and seek fortune and the Dao.
Shards of Awakening
- Thread starter dmclain2
- Start date
- Created
- Status
- Hiatus
- Watchers
- 122
- Recent readers
- 0
- Threadmarks
- 80
-
Statistics (41 threadmarks, 79k words)
User Total dmclain2 41 -
Loading…
-
Loading…
An Auspicious Meeting
Civilization accretes along the edges where land and water meet, drawn to the oppositional emanations of the qi of Earth and Water. Never has this been more true than when the seven tribes of the Sky Father sought an end to their ceaseless wandering. In a whirlwind of blood and qi, the tribes descended through the Emerald Pass, sweeping the indigenous people from the land and settling along the countless rivers and lakes of what would in time become the core kingdoms of the Eternal Empire.
History and Historiography in the Age of Antiquities, Sagacious Bao Zhu, 3rd Age, 4th Year of Our Glorious Empress, Dawn's Fire Li Lian, forever may her light shine.
Sect Elder, Multifarious Chen Bai drifts out of contemplation at the sound of a delicate chime. Around him, hundreds of tiny bronze automata still and the echoing sounds of labor fade from his workshop. Few were the cultivators powerful enough or discourteous enough interrupt him in the midst of his craft. The laughter of wispy spirits as they coalesce and dissolve in playful testing of the nullification ward that separates his workshop from more mundane reality tells him it is both.
Unable to ignore the waiting elder, at least without risking her displeasure, Chen Bai melts into countless flecks of jade and orichalcum, each ringed with eight writhing, razor tipped legs. A thought sparks in a thousand separate clockwork minds and the horde of tiny arachnids scurry through cracks in space twisted such that not even an Amber Soul could pass un-maimed.
As the intricately crafted bits of his Soul swarm upon a pillow of woven cloud, a painting, the only splash of color in an otherwise undecorated room, stirs to life. Grey clouds envelop the room and disgorge the actinic flash of lightning and a deluge of rain, in the distance, waves crash against high rocky cliffs. It would have been telling, if there were any at the sect who had known of his past, that the imagery of a content childhood spent along the fjords of the Stormwall was what had been chosen.
As the comfortable tapping of rain bounces off an invisible barrier, a trio of man-sized silver automata put the finishing touches of decoration on a low table. The last items to be set soundlessly on the table are a pair of white jade teacups. Steam rises from the amber liquid held within and carries with it the heaviness of failure mixed with bittersweet longing. For a brief moment, nostalgia fills him, an instant that lasts almost too briefly for him to even catalog before the curious feeling is torn apart between the teeth of grinding, interlocked gears.
Importing Lin Huo's Regret from beyond The Veil was exorbitantly expensive. It was also a useful and at times necessary expense. With a sigh that might have been called resigned were it to come from someone less self-possessed, Chen Bai rings a responding chime, and the wards around him fade to quiescence.
The playful laughter, and the wispy forms of tiny sprites grow clearer as his fellow Sect Elder, Maddening Wind, Xia Mei enters the room. Respectfully, he rises. "Elder Sister Xia Mei fortune favors me this day with your presence."
Long black hair flutters in a non-existent breeze as she inclines her head respectfully. "Junior Brother Chen Bai, it has been some time since last we met." With those words, Xia Mei smiles, and the laughter around her quiets.
A faint tension in Chen Bai's spine relaxes as she does so. It was considered a courtesy for those with a higher cultivation level to mute their domain when around those that were susceptible to it. A courtesy only, and one the Maddening Wind rarely followed. So it was a welcome, and more than slightly reassuring gesture that she had bothered this time. After all, few even among his fellow elders could claim to be completely unmoved by the whispering insanity that was Xia Mei's unrestrained domain.
"I do hope you will forgive me if I have interrupted anything important," Chen Bai can hear the faint edge of insincerity in her words, but as ever, the unwanted flicker of annoyance emotion is quickly ground away from his thoughts and he shrugs.
"It is of no moment, Senior Sister, please do not trouble yourself over it." He gestures to the seat across from him. "I have prepared some tea. If you wish we may indulge while discussing the stroke of providence that has brought you to my humble abode."
Xia Mei nods an easy acceptance and gold-threaded crimson cloth unfolds elegantly around her as she settles into the cushion set across the table from him. While Chen Bai follows suit, fingers tipped in black lacquer wrap around the cup nearest to her, and with a pleased sound, Xia Mei take a sip. Courtesy would indicate that she wait until he had seated himself, however, there was only so much this particular elder would ever be willing to sacrifice in the name of courtesy..
"You always have the most delightful ambience," she remarks between sips. "If only others amongst our brethren were as considerate."
"Perhaps some among our fellow elders find themselves more concerned with Senior Sister's previous occupation than they do the current one," he replies a touch blandly. Xia Mei had earned her Daoist name extracting information from the minds she had shattered in service to the Chamber of Whispers.
"Perhaps," she muses and a chiming laughter tugs briefly at the edges of his mind, "what would that make you then, Junior Brother? A fool for ignoring his fellows caution? Or brave for treading forth where others hesitate?"
"It makes me what I am, nothing else," Chen Bai replies and is momentarily gratified to see her acknowledgment of his statement.
"How curious then that it is Junior Brother's very nature that brings this retired Seeker to his door this day," Xia Mei sips at her tea as dark eyes focus inscrutably on him.
Chen Bai doesn't miss the emphasis she placed on her retirement, and can hardly miss the increased tug of insanity on his consciousness. A singular golden gear begin to turn and he focuses past the intrusion, "my apologies then, Elder Sister for interrupting your retirement. It is difficult to judge time in the Reflection, but that is no excuse for shirking duties such that it would result in Elder Sister's presence."
"It is not a dereliction of duty that brings me here," Xia Mei replies after a long moment of consideration. Consideration that ends with the laughter ringing in his mind fading away. "Rather Elder Fang Ai, Elder Li Jun, and I decided that Junior Brother would make a most suitable arbiter for the deadlock we have found ourselves mired in."
Chen Bai nods at that, feeling somewhat back on familiar ground. His disinterest in things beyond his craft was well known, and as a result he was often called upon to cast a deciding vote in any number of matters. "In that case, I will endeavor to be worthy of the trust my fellow elders have placed in me."
"Of that, there can be no doubt," it is perhaps the first time Chen Bai had heard Elder Xia Mei compliment someone so openly, and for a moment it throws him more than the transient effects of her domain. "I'm sure Junior Brother is aware, but to reiterate the issue, in one month's time, the sect will accept a new year of outer disciples."
Chen Bai nods at those words, it had slipped his mind, and does his best to ignore the knowing look he receives in response, "It is an auspicious year, the forty-ninth since the founding of this Province."
"Indeed," she agrees with a measured sort of indifference, "as a result, admissions have been more… heated this year than in years previous. At this point, we three are deadlocked on which applicant should be granted the final admission spot for this year."
A spindly limbed creature with a round belly, jagged teeth, and bright red eyes manifests on the low table, bows deeply, first to Xia Mei and then to himself before carefully laying down three folders. "Each of us has a favorite, and none could be convinced to budge upon the issue, fortunately, Junior Brother's name arose during the debate, and all were in agreement that he would provide a most suitable compromise."
"May I," Chen Bai gestures toward the set of dossiers and upon receiving an agreeing nod picks up the first one.
"Xing Hua," Xia Mei summarizes as he reads through the documents. "A soldier's daughter, her father owns a minor estate almost on the western edge of the province. Proficient in the guandao and her family's martial cultivation techniques. An average student at best and Elder Fang Ai's choice."
It was little surprise that the Elder in charge of the sect's First Expeditionary Force would select a soldier's child as her pick. Still, Chen Bai thinks there is probably more to Elder Fang Ai's choice than just that and as he reads through the dossier, it appears that thought is correct.
Xing Hua was just shy of gifted with the guandao and had begun learning a pair of cultivation techniques built around the weapon. In addition, while her father would likely never Ascend, he had still managed to build a loose confederation of like minded cultivators that had chosen to settle near the frontier. With a strong affinity for weapon based cultivation techniques and burgeoning list of noble connections, it was only her average talent, and the auspicious year, that had kept her from having a guaranteed spot within the outer sect.
"An acceptable choice," Chen Bai comments after placing the folder down, "if not necessarily an inspired one."
With a flick of the wrist, the second dossier replaces the first. Once again, Xia Mei provides commentary, "Quan Jia, only child of Count Quan Jin, otherwise completely useless, and Elder Li Jun's choice."
This situation as well was perhaps a bit more complicated than Xia Mei's easy dismissal made it seem. In a century or three, the ambitious and talented head of one of the hundreds of branches of the Quan clan, Quan Jin would likely be one of a very small number of prominent nobles. A noble that would control vast portions of the province's wealth and power as it shifted from expansion to consolidation. In a century or three.
As with Elder Fang Ai's choice, there was little surprise that Elder Li Jun would choose to sow seeds on the chance that they would bear fruit a century hence.
As he reads through the second dossier, Chen Bai is unable to completely still the minute frown that crosses his face. Quan Jia's lack of talent would make it difficult to advance beyond the Lesser Souls even if her father became viceroy of the province. Still, she did appear to display a certain minor affinity for elemental fire. It was hardly enough to overcome her lack of talent, but it was better than nothing.
On the other hand, unlike Fang Ai's choice, and presumably Xia Mei's, Li Jun's choice would have little uncertainty in her life. Regardless of her own diligence, her father's resources and influence would be enough to see her graduate to the inner sect in a few years time. That same influence would, more likely sooner than later, garner her a core-discipleship with one of a handful of the ambitious and but untalented sect elders that seemed to grow like mold throughout the Imperial Sects.
"And if the esteemed Lord Quan Jin were to sire a more competent heir?" Chen Bai muses more or less to himself, though the way Xia Mei's lips quirk in what may be amusement causes him to focus more clearly, at which point the answer, and the source of her amusement becomes readily apparent.
"Ahh," Chen Bai coughs uncomfortably, "I had forgotten that rather sordid business. I suppose it's safe to say he won't be siring any more children then."
"Thus Elder Li Jun's support," she murmurs, not quite bothering to hide the disdain she feels for her fellow elder.
"The third is Elder Sister's choice then?" Chen Bai comments as he picks up the final folder. "I wonder what this choice will say about the Maddening Wind?"
Xia Mei laughs. The world tilts sideways as tendrils of burning red violence creep through the edges of Chen Bai's sight and fear sinks burning claws into the back of his skull. "Why, Junior Brother would it say anything? After all, chaos is just the Madness of the universe."
Between one moment and the next, insanity lifts, and Chen Bai takes a moment to ponder what was just said. It had the ring of Dao, and for single, utterly terrifying instant, he realizes the depth of Elder Xia Mai's Madness was far…
Chen Bai flips through the dossier as for a third time Xia Mei provides commentary, "Xiao Lien, exceptional talent, an unfortunate lack of lineage or political connection and…"
Unsanctioned. "An unfortunate stain on an otherwise unimpeachable application," he replies neutrally and then a thought occurs, "Would Elder Sister perhaps know the provenance of her ancestry?"
A smile that makes the skin at the back of his neck crawl is his only response and Chen Bai sighs as he returns his focus to the papers in front of him.
Xiao Lien, spawn of a human mother and an unknown spirit father had passed an unremarked and unremarkable childhood in a quiet, unawakened neighborhood near the outskirts of the provincial city of Linxia. Quiet at least until several months previous when her awakening had been observed by the sensory wards, primed as they were to detect the intrusion of unwanted spirits. After a regrettable incident with the local constabulary, fortunately stopped prior to lasting harm occurring, the city magistrate had decided to make her existence someone else's problem, namely the local Imperial Sect.
Her talent was prodigious, just shy of legendary in fact, but there was a risk of… contamination, as there was with all unsanctioned spirit-blooded cultivators. In cases of lesser talent, shattering the Diamond Core would have been the kinder fate, but for one such as this… well there wasn't a cultivator of the Greater Souls who had ever been averse to risk. And for the reward: powerful, and more importantly powerful unaffiliated cultivators were coveted by everyone from sects to individual elders to the Imperial Bureaucracies themselves.
For a long moment, Chen Bai remains silent as gears of precious metal and faceted gemstone work through fact, supposition, and potential. Finally, he speaks:
[] Xing Hua
[] Quan Jia
[] Xiao Lien
A/N
In case it isn't clear, this is the first of a few (maybe two or three) character creation votes.
History and Historiography in the Age of Antiquities, Sagacious Bao Zhu, 3rd Age, 4th Year of Our Glorious Empress, Dawn's Fire Li Lian, forever may her light shine.
Sect Elder, Multifarious Chen Bai drifts out of contemplation at the sound of a delicate chime. Around him, hundreds of tiny bronze automata still and the echoing sounds of labor fade from his workshop. Few were the cultivators powerful enough or discourteous enough interrupt him in the midst of his craft. The laughter of wispy spirits as they coalesce and dissolve in playful testing of the nullification ward that separates his workshop from more mundane reality tells him it is both.
Unable to ignore the waiting elder, at least without risking her displeasure, Chen Bai melts into countless flecks of jade and orichalcum, each ringed with eight writhing, razor tipped legs. A thought sparks in a thousand separate clockwork minds and the horde of tiny arachnids scurry through cracks in space twisted such that not even an Amber Soul could pass un-maimed.
As the intricately crafted bits of his Soul swarm upon a pillow of woven cloud, a painting, the only splash of color in an otherwise undecorated room, stirs to life. Grey clouds envelop the room and disgorge the actinic flash of lightning and a deluge of rain, in the distance, waves crash against high rocky cliffs. It would have been telling, if there were any at the sect who had known of his past, that the imagery of a content childhood spent along the fjords of the Stormwall was what had been chosen.
As the comfortable tapping of rain bounces off an invisible barrier, a trio of man-sized silver automata put the finishing touches of decoration on a low table. The last items to be set soundlessly on the table are a pair of white jade teacups. Steam rises from the amber liquid held within and carries with it the heaviness of failure mixed with bittersweet longing. For a brief moment, nostalgia fills him, an instant that lasts almost too briefly for him to even catalog before the curious feeling is torn apart between the teeth of grinding, interlocked gears.
Importing Lin Huo's Regret from beyond The Veil was exorbitantly expensive. It was also a useful and at times necessary expense. With a sigh that might have been called resigned were it to come from someone less self-possessed, Chen Bai rings a responding chime, and the wards around him fade to quiescence.
The playful laughter, and the wispy forms of tiny sprites grow clearer as his fellow Sect Elder, Maddening Wind, Xia Mei enters the room. Respectfully, he rises. "Elder Sister Xia Mei fortune favors me this day with your presence."
Long black hair flutters in a non-existent breeze as she inclines her head respectfully. "Junior Brother Chen Bai, it has been some time since last we met." With those words, Xia Mei smiles, and the laughter around her quiets.
A faint tension in Chen Bai's spine relaxes as she does so. It was considered a courtesy for those with a higher cultivation level to mute their domain when around those that were susceptible to it. A courtesy only, and one the Maddening Wind rarely followed. So it was a welcome, and more than slightly reassuring gesture that she had bothered this time. After all, few even among his fellow elders could claim to be completely unmoved by the whispering insanity that was Xia Mei's unrestrained domain.
"I do hope you will forgive me if I have interrupted anything important," Chen Bai can hear the faint edge of insincerity in her words, but as ever, the unwanted flicker of annoyance emotion is quickly ground away from his thoughts and he shrugs.
"It is of no moment, Senior Sister, please do not trouble yourself over it." He gestures to the seat across from him. "I have prepared some tea. If you wish we may indulge while discussing the stroke of providence that has brought you to my humble abode."
Xia Mei nods an easy acceptance and gold-threaded crimson cloth unfolds elegantly around her as she settles into the cushion set across the table from him. While Chen Bai follows suit, fingers tipped in black lacquer wrap around the cup nearest to her, and with a pleased sound, Xia Mei take a sip. Courtesy would indicate that she wait until he had seated himself, however, there was only so much this particular elder would ever be willing to sacrifice in the name of courtesy..
"You always have the most delightful ambience," she remarks between sips. "If only others amongst our brethren were as considerate."
"Perhaps some among our fellow elders find themselves more concerned with Senior Sister's previous occupation than they do the current one," he replies a touch blandly. Xia Mei had earned her Daoist name extracting information from the minds she had shattered in service to the Chamber of Whispers.
"Perhaps," she muses and a chiming laughter tugs briefly at the edges of his mind, "what would that make you then, Junior Brother? A fool for ignoring his fellows caution? Or brave for treading forth where others hesitate?"
"It makes me what I am, nothing else," Chen Bai replies and is momentarily gratified to see her acknowledgment of his statement.
"How curious then that it is Junior Brother's very nature that brings this retired Seeker to his door this day," Xia Mei sips at her tea as dark eyes focus inscrutably on him.
Chen Bai doesn't miss the emphasis she placed on her retirement, and can hardly miss the increased tug of insanity on his consciousness. A singular golden gear begin to turn and he focuses past the intrusion, "my apologies then, Elder Sister for interrupting your retirement. It is difficult to judge time in the Reflection, but that is no excuse for shirking duties such that it would result in Elder Sister's presence."
"It is not a dereliction of duty that brings me here," Xia Mei replies after a long moment of consideration. Consideration that ends with the laughter ringing in his mind fading away. "Rather Elder Fang Ai, Elder Li Jun, and I decided that Junior Brother would make a most suitable arbiter for the deadlock we have found ourselves mired in."
Chen Bai nods at that, feeling somewhat back on familiar ground. His disinterest in things beyond his craft was well known, and as a result he was often called upon to cast a deciding vote in any number of matters. "In that case, I will endeavor to be worthy of the trust my fellow elders have placed in me."
"Of that, there can be no doubt," it is perhaps the first time Chen Bai had heard Elder Xia Mei compliment someone so openly, and for a moment it throws him more than the transient effects of her domain. "I'm sure Junior Brother is aware, but to reiterate the issue, in one month's time, the sect will accept a new year of outer disciples."
Chen Bai nods at those words, it had slipped his mind, and does his best to ignore the knowing look he receives in response, "It is an auspicious year, the forty-ninth since the founding of this Province."
"Indeed," she agrees with a measured sort of indifference, "as a result, admissions have been more… heated this year than in years previous. At this point, we three are deadlocked on which applicant should be granted the final admission spot for this year."
A spindly limbed creature with a round belly, jagged teeth, and bright red eyes manifests on the low table, bows deeply, first to Xia Mei and then to himself before carefully laying down three folders. "Each of us has a favorite, and none could be convinced to budge upon the issue, fortunately, Junior Brother's name arose during the debate, and all were in agreement that he would provide a most suitable compromise."
"May I," Chen Bai gestures toward the set of dossiers and upon receiving an agreeing nod picks up the first one.
"Xing Hua," Xia Mei summarizes as he reads through the documents. "A soldier's daughter, her father owns a minor estate almost on the western edge of the province. Proficient in the guandao and her family's martial cultivation techniques. An average student at best and Elder Fang Ai's choice."
It was little surprise that the Elder in charge of the sect's First Expeditionary Force would select a soldier's child as her pick. Still, Chen Bai thinks there is probably more to Elder Fang Ai's choice than just that and as he reads through the dossier, it appears that thought is correct.
Xing Hua was just shy of gifted with the guandao and had begun learning a pair of cultivation techniques built around the weapon. In addition, while her father would likely never Ascend, he had still managed to build a loose confederation of like minded cultivators that had chosen to settle near the frontier. With a strong affinity for weapon based cultivation techniques and burgeoning list of noble connections, it was only her average talent, and the auspicious year, that had kept her from having a guaranteed spot within the outer sect.
"An acceptable choice," Chen Bai comments after placing the folder down, "if not necessarily an inspired one."
With a flick of the wrist, the second dossier replaces the first. Once again, Xia Mei provides commentary, "Quan Jia, only child of Count Quan Jin, otherwise completely useless, and Elder Li Jun's choice."
This situation as well was perhaps a bit more complicated than Xia Mei's easy dismissal made it seem. In a century or three, the ambitious and talented head of one of the hundreds of branches of the Quan clan, Quan Jin would likely be one of a very small number of prominent nobles. A noble that would control vast portions of the province's wealth and power as it shifted from expansion to consolidation. In a century or three.
As with Elder Fang Ai's choice, there was little surprise that Elder Li Jun would choose to sow seeds on the chance that they would bear fruit a century hence.
As he reads through the second dossier, Chen Bai is unable to completely still the minute frown that crosses his face. Quan Jia's lack of talent would make it difficult to advance beyond the Lesser Souls even if her father became viceroy of the province. Still, she did appear to display a certain minor affinity for elemental fire. It was hardly enough to overcome her lack of talent, but it was better than nothing.
On the other hand, unlike Fang Ai's choice, and presumably Xia Mei's, Li Jun's choice would have little uncertainty in her life. Regardless of her own diligence, her father's resources and influence would be enough to see her graduate to the inner sect in a few years time. That same influence would, more likely sooner than later, garner her a core-discipleship with one of a handful of the ambitious and but untalented sect elders that seemed to grow like mold throughout the Imperial Sects.
"And if the esteemed Lord Quan Jin were to sire a more competent heir?" Chen Bai muses more or less to himself, though the way Xia Mei's lips quirk in what may be amusement causes him to focus more clearly, at which point the answer, and the source of her amusement becomes readily apparent.
"Ahh," Chen Bai coughs uncomfortably, "I had forgotten that rather sordid business. I suppose it's safe to say he won't be siring any more children then."
"Thus Elder Li Jun's support," she murmurs, not quite bothering to hide the disdain she feels for her fellow elder.
"The third is Elder Sister's choice then?" Chen Bai comments as he picks up the final folder. "I wonder what this choice will say about the Maddening Wind?"
Xia Mei laughs. The world tilts sideways as tendrils of burning red violence creep through the edges of Chen Bai's sight and fear sinks burning claws into the back of his skull. "Why, Junior Brother would it say anything? After all, chaos is just the Madness of the universe."
Between one moment and the next, insanity lifts, and Chen Bai takes a moment to ponder what was just said. It had the ring of Dao, and for single, utterly terrifying instant, he realizes the depth of Elder Xia Mai's Madness was far…
Chen Bai flips through the dossier as for a third time Xia Mei provides commentary, "Xiao Lien, exceptional talent, an unfortunate lack of lineage or political connection and…"
Unsanctioned. "An unfortunate stain on an otherwise unimpeachable application," he replies neutrally and then a thought occurs, "Would Elder Sister perhaps know the provenance of her ancestry?"
A smile that makes the skin at the back of his neck crawl is his only response and Chen Bai sighs as he returns his focus to the papers in front of him.
Xiao Lien, spawn of a human mother and an unknown spirit father had passed an unremarked and unremarkable childhood in a quiet, unawakened neighborhood near the outskirts of the provincial city of Linxia. Quiet at least until several months previous when her awakening had been observed by the sensory wards, primed as they were to detect the intrusion of unwanted spirits. After a regrettable incident with the local constabulary, fortunately stopped prior to lasting harm occurring, the city magistrate had decided to make her existence someone else's problem, namely the local Imperial Sect.
Her talent was prodigious, just shy of legendary in fact, but there was a risk of… contamination, as there was with all unsanctioned spirit-blooded cultivators. In cases of lesser talent, shattering the Diamond Core would have been the kinder fate, but for one such as this… well there wasn't a cultivator of the Greater Souls who had ever been averse to risk. And for the reward: powerful, and more importantly powerful unaffiliated cultivators were coveted by everyone from sects to individual elders to the Imperial Bureaucracies themselves.
For a long moment, Chen Bai remains silent as gears of precious metal and faceted gemstone work through fact, supposition, and potential. Finally, he speaks:
[] Xing Hua
Strength: ●●●○○ Potency: ●○○○○
Dexterity: ●●○○○ Awareness: ●●○○○
Stamina: ●●○○○ Resilience: ●○○○○
Talent: ●●●●●
Affinity: ●●●
Prodigy of Polearms
Xing Hua's Talent counts as 6 for cultivating arts related to any type of polearm (quarterstaffs, spears, halberds, etc.) likewise her potency counts as 1 dot higher for using any of these arts.
Minor Noble
Xing Hua is one of several children of a minor baron with estates near the frontier. She receives a stipend of 2 additional spirit ores or gems of the highest level she can cultivate (up to iron and agate respectively) per turn.
Dexterity: ●●○○○ Awareness: ●●○○○
Stamina: ●●○○○ Resilience: ●○○○○
Talent: ●●●●●
Affinity: ●●●
Prodigy of Polearms
Xing Hua's Talent counts as 6 for cultivating arts related to any type of polearm (quarterstaffs, spears, halberds, etc.) likewise her potency counts as 1 dot higher for using any of these arts.
Minor Noble
Xing Hua is one of several children of a minor baron with estates near the frontier. She receives a stipend of 2 additional spirit ores or gems of the highest level she can cultivate (up to iron and agate respectively) per turn.
[] Quan Jia
Strength: ●○○○○ Potency: ●○○○○
Dexterity: ●●●○○ Awareness: ●○○○○
Stamina: ●○○○○ Resilience: ●○○○○
Talent: ●●●●
Affinity: ●●●●● ●
Major Noble
Quan Jia is the only child of a prominent provincial Count. She receives a stipend of 5 additional spirit ores or gems of the highest level she can cultivate (up to silver and amber respectively) per turn.
Scion of Clan Quan
Quan Jia is the scion of Clan Quan, one of a small number of powerful noble clans within the province. There are few individuals or organizations who will not be positively predisposed toward her due to this fact. Upon meeting an individual or coming in to contact with an organization, a 1d3 - 1 is rolled and added to the relationship or reputation score with that entity.
Dexterity: ●●●○○ Awareness: ●○○○○
Stamina: ●○○○○ Resilience: ●○○○○
Talent: ●●●●
Affinity: ●●●●● ●
Major Noble
Quan Jia is the only child of a prominent provincial Count. She receives a stipend of 5 additional spirit ores or gems of the highest level she can cultivate (up to silver and amber respectively) per turn.
Scion of Clan Quan
Quan Jia is the scion of Clan Quan, one of a small number of powerful noble clans within the province. There are few individuals or organizations who will not be positively predisposed toward her due to this fact. Upon meeting an individual or coming in to contact with an organization, a 1d3 - 1 is rolled and added to the relationship or reputation score with that entity.
[] Xiao Lien
Strength: ●○○○○ Potency: ●●●○○
Dexterity: ●○○○○ Awareness: ●○○○○
Stamina: ●○○○○ Resilience: ●○○○○
Talent: ●●●●● ●●
Affinity: ●●
Spirit-Blooded
As the child of a ???, Xiao Lien receives ???. She is also susceptible to ???.
Imperial Prejudice
While the carefully planned and sanctioned breeding of spirit and humanity is allowed and even celebrated in certain cases, the Ji have interbred with the Verdant Court such that Court and Clan have merged into one entity, unregulated miscegenation between human and spirit has long been viewed with skepticism. The aftermath of the Calamity of Fire, and the actions taken by spirit-blooded contaminated by the God-Beast, upgraded that skepticism to prejudice. Upon meeting an individual or coming in to contact with an organization, a 1d3 - 1 is rolled and subtracted from the relationship or reputation score with that entity.
Dexterity: ●○○○○ Awareness: ●○○○○
Stamina: ●○○○○ Resilience: ●○○○○
Talent: ●●●●● ●●
Affinity: ●●
Spirit-Blooded
As the child of a ???, Xiao Lien receives ???. She is also susceptible to ???.
Imperial Prejudice
While the carefully planned and sanctioned breeding of spirit and humanity is allowed and even celebrated in certain cases, the Ji have interbred with the Verdant Court such that Court and Clan have merged into one entity, unregulated miscegenation between human and spirit has long been viewed with skepticism. The aftermath of the Calamity of Fire, and the actions taken by spirit-blooded contaminated by the God-Beast, upgraded that skepticism to prejudice. Upon meeting an individual or coming in to contact with an organization, a 1d3 - 1 is rolled and subtracted from the relationship or reputation score with that entity.
A/N
In case it isn't clear, this is the first of a few (maybe two or three) character creation votes.
Last edited:
Character Sheet
-
AttributeBaseInherent
BonusesExternal
BonusesTotalStrength (2/20 XP) ●● ●●○○○ Dexterity (0/30 XP) ●●● ●● ●●●●● Stamina (0/10 XP) ● ●●● ●●●●○ Potency (0/20 XP) ●● ●● ●●●●○ Awareness (0/10 XP) ● ●●● ●●●●○ Resilience (0/20 XP) ●● ●●○○○
-
Minor Affinity: Slumber
Quan Jia Awakened within a dream and a small piece of that realm followed her out. (+2 dice to cultivation of all arts or techniques with the keyword Slumber.)
Major Affinity: Dream
On the windswept peak of a mountain tall beyond compare, Quan Jia ingested a fragment of Dream. (+1 Talent when cultivating all arts or techniques with the keyword Dream.)
Intuitive Awareness
Quan Jia has gained an intuitive understanding of some of the connections between qi and metaphor and reality. (When attempting perception checks, 10s count double toward successes.)
-
Physical Stats
Attack =3
Defense = 5 (10)2(Strength) + 1 (Unarmed)
Health =205 (Dexterity) + 4/2 (Potency) + 3(Technique)
4 (Stamina) * 5
Esoteric Stats
Attack = 4
Defense = 44 (Potency)
Health = 104(Awareness)
2 (Resilience) * 5
-
Talent
Level: ●●●●
+1 Talent to cultivation of arts and techniques with a theme of Dream. (Major Affinity for Dream)
Affinity
Level: ●●●●● ●●●●● ●
+2 dice to cultivation of arts and techniques with a theme of Slumber. (Minor Affinity for Slumber)
+3 dice to cultivation of meridians, qi, and base cultivation. (Large Estate Vent)
Cultivation
Level: Diamond Soul
Stage: Mid
XP: 23/40
Meridians
Number: 11
XP: 4/14
Qi
Pool: ●●
XP 0/50
Bound Sites
Number: 1/3
Nature sleeps in winter. The vibrancy of life fades before inexorable cold and yet remains defiant in coiled, waiting slumber. In places where year after year, decade after decade, century after century, life both animal and otherwise return to weather the grasp of winter, the qi of Slumber gathers.
Site Potency: Lesser Cultivation Site.
Keywords: Slumber, Winter, Beast.
Bonuses: +3 to stamina and awareness.
-
Potency: Diamond Core
Theme(s): Slumber, Dreams, Travel
Growth: 6 Paths
Description:
Those who wander the Dream speak of paths, glittering highways and twisted game-trails alike, portions of consistency within an infinitely mutable whole. While no two cultivators can agree upon where a path lies, or what it leads to, there are a few paths within the Dream where effort and understanding can set the stage for one's journey along it.
This art, created by the Sage of a Thousand Eyes lays out the meditations required to begin the journey upon six such paths.
First Path: the paths of Dream are as fractured mirrors to the roads of the waking world. A cultivator of the First Path takes their first steps along this fractured way and begins to perceive the branchings of if and perchance.
Mastery of the First Path grants a +2 (to a 1d100 base roll) bonus to random event, exploration, and loot rolls
Mastered
Second Path: A fractured mirror yet reveals truths unseen. A cultivator of the Second Path once again takes their first steps along the twisted paths of Dream and refines their ability to tell true from false.
Mastery of the Second Path grants a +5 (stacks with previous bonus) bonus to random event, exploration, and loot rolls
Mastered
Third Path: A lotus grows from the muck, ever seeking the light of the sun. Such was the Enlightenment imparted by Lady Shifting Sands. The paths through Dream that Quan Jia walks are now illuminated by the gentle light of the noon-day sun.
Mastery of the Third Path grants an intuitive understanding of where a path leads (mechanically voters may choose from a selection of rewards offered within the tier achieved by that roll)
XP: 1/75
Potency: Diamond Core
Theme(s): Slumber, Earth, Shield
Attribute: Dexterity
Type: Physical Defense
Growth: 5 Dunes
Description:
Throughout the Dream, sands blow, a metaphor carved into the Dream by waking minds and enacted upon waking minds by the Dream. Despite its recursive nature, the sands of sleep may be manifested with slumber aspected qi and used to rob the impetus of an attack upon the cultivator. The Dreaming Tempest, Ma Qiu was the first cultivator to tap into this particular facet of the Dream and use it to defend herself from attackers. While this technique retains little of the potency of its progenitor, it is still an effective means of shielding a cultivator from harm.
First Dune (Qi cost: ●):
The Sands of Sleep draw away force, impetus, verve, from the waking world. Practitioners of the First Dune learn how to interpose discs of this sand between themselves and attacks.
The First Dune provides a +1 dice bonus to physical defense pool.
Mastered
Second Dune:
Sand flows as liquid and absorbs with languid stillness. Practitioners of the Second Dune begin to refine their control over their sand constructs.
The second dune increases the defensive bonus provided by the First Dune to +3
XP: 45/50
Third Dune (Qi cost: ●●)
Sand abrades clarity and erodes precision. Practitioners of the Third Dune learn how to thread grains of sand throughout an opponent's techniques
The Third Dune eliminates an opponent's physical attack technique bonuses. -
19 Spirit Diamonds
1 Robin's Grace Pill: a pill crafted from the fluttering grace of a robin and mixed with base materials before being cooked in a cultivation furnace. +6d10 to cultivating dexterity
1 Glowing Attribute Pill: A hero's defiance of Fate, at the moment of triumph. +10d10 to cultivating all attributes
1 Plain Pill: The endless sea of Earth, framed in a torrent of stillness. +10d10 to cultivating base cultivation.
Wind's Dancer
A branch of a cherry tree, engraved with inhuman precision into a simple golden-jade plaque sways ever so slowly amidst an unseen breeze. [Talisman provide +2 dots to dexterity, a bonus that will increase to +4 upon reaching Quartz Soul, +6 upon reaching Pearl, +8 upon reaching Agate, and +10 upon reaching Amber.]
Moon's Radiance
A pearl, glowing with the soft luminescence of the moon, dangles from a simple silver chain. [Talisman provide +2 dots to potency, a bonus that will increase to +4 upon reaching Quartz Soul, +6 upon reaching Pearl, +8 upon reaching Agate, and +10 upon reaching Amber.]
Gyre of Five-Fold Enlightenment
A censer scribed with the character for heat embossed in black enamel on each of its sides. [The Gyre of Five-Fold Enlightenment provides a multiplicative bonus* of 1.2 to the number of cultivation dice that can be applied to the cultivation of arts, techniques, attributes, and base cultivation level.]
Thousand Trainings Mirror
A simple bronze mirror, its edges wrapped with the serpentine form of an Azure Skies Dragon. Curiously, it offers no reflection, unless, that is, a cultivator were to practice a cultivation technique in front of it. Then the mirror reflects, in patterns both chaotic and fractal, a thousand separate mistakes and inefficiencies. By studying these countless mistakes, a cultivator can rapidly improve their understanding of their techniques. [Multiplies the successes obtained when cultivating techniques by 1.5]
Abnegation Chamber
A ring, several feet in diameter, made out of a flattened ochre material and twisted in a way that gives the appearance the ring has only one side. Cultivating qi while within the chamber is rendered incredibly difficult by twin forces that both constrict the cultivator's meridians and scatter the ambient qi within. [cultivating qi within the chamber confers a -1 penalty to talent and doubles all successes.]
A unique creation of the un-aspected qi upon which the Sect of Riven Stone was built and the artifice of Multifarious Chen Bai, these vents are an incredible boon to almost all outer-sect cultivators. A cultivator who spends at least one evening a week sleeping or cultivating within an abode containing one of these vents will absorb the un-aspected qi that is emitted. Due to the purity and lack of aspect of this qi, it rotates freely within the cultivator's meridians until being absorbed into the Diamond Core. (Large Estate Vents provide a bonus of +3 cultivation dice to all cultivation that does not involve aspected qi up until Agate Soul.) -
Whether it's due to an impressive mental capacity, to notice, and process the minute flaws in the apparatus of a game of chance, or whether it's due to a burgeoning ability to interpret the interface of chance and fate, you have gained a supernatural competence in playing games of chance.
Quan Jia succeeds in all gambling checks where either her opponent(s) lack an applicable skill or the game itself isn't protected against this kind of advantage.
Your mother sought enlightenment through beauty and found it in the blossoming of a flower. Your father modified his core in an unusual, and dangerous, way to win the hand of the woman who had stolen his heart. Is it any surprise then that the sprawling estates of your childhood were full of gardens and jungles, oases and forests, home to ten-thousand species of plants? Is it any surprise that an easily bored child would escape to wander those endlessly changing vistas? That you would learn of the natural world by yourself, and at the knee of your father?
Quan Jia automatically succeeds in all gathering attempts for plants with a cultivation level equivalent to Diamond Core. The DC for gathering all plants is reduced by 1 dot.
Hitting things wasn't necessarily your favorite thing to do, though, you had learned how to do so. It was, after all, one of the few places where your pops wouldn't compromise: if you wanted to explore outside of the estate you had to learn how to defend yourself. Since there were only so many things to see, and nap on, inside the estate, you had agreed, and despite your preferences learned how to both punch and kick.
Quan Jia can fight off an arbitrarily large number of unawakened beings (e.g. animals or people) she also received a +1 dice bonus to her physical attack pool.
The Heavens were cruel. That was the only explanation for the hours, days, weeks, months, years, centuries, ages... well maybe not the last two, you had spent learning the endless minutiae of trade agreements and political alliances in the Province of Shattered Peaks.
Quan Jia understands the underlying power structures and alliances that form the province. (Skill will be expressed narratively more than mechanically)
If lessons on politics had been torture then lessons on cultivation were... still torture. Why did pops always try to keep you cooped up inside? Regardless, your lessons exposed you to a thousand different cultivation resources, taught you to recognize the ambient ley lines that made up a cultivation site, and gave you a theoretical foundation for how talismans worked.
Quan Jia will automatically identify all common cultivation loot she finds and receives a +1 dot bonus to identifying rare loot.
-
Eldest Son of Baron Zhang Chao one of Lord Quan Jin's retainers. Either wants to date you or fight you, you're not sure, and don't really care
Character Details
Resonance
N/A
Derived Stats
N/A
Mentoring Capabilities
N/A
He's kind of creepy, but in a good way. Plus he knows some cool people and he can probably tell you cool things about the sect. Next time Mei Mei's not looking, you may try and meet up with him and his friends again.
Character Details
Resonance
N/A
Derived Stats
N/A
Mentoring Capabilities
N/A
You hijacked a dinner invitation and dragged her out to lunch and then helped her out with some cultivation stuff. It seems kind of like there's an unpleasant sort of parallel between her life and yours
Character Details
Resonance
She used a shadow or darkness based technique against you during your first combat class.
Derived Stats
P. Off: 5
P. Def: 3
Mentoring Capabilities:
N/A
She hasn't really said, but it's not really hard to notice that things haven't been all that great for Xiao Lien recently. That's all going to change now, she's your friend, and pops always says how important it is to make sure your friends are happy. Also, she's a top eight pillow without even using her tail... her potential seems endless.
Character Details
Resonance
She seems to like the sun, but also used a defensive technique that had feathers in it.
Derived Stats
N/A
Mentoring Capabilities
N/A
Due to distance and markedly different priorities, you and Shao Cuifen had never interacted much. That's changed now, you're friends now. You just have to remember to that she's even more obsessed than you are. Her sword likes to sleep too, how cool is that.
Character Details
Resonance
Sword, clearly sword.
Derived Stats
N/A
Mentoring Capabilities
N/A
She's your neighbor that likes to grow plants, or imbue them with nascent spirits, or something. You're not quite sure. Either way, you've never met someone that can talk to spirits like that and you're determined to become friends with her.
Character Details
Resonance
She can speak to spirits, but you're not sure whether that's a trait or a part of her resonance.
Derived Stats
N/A
Mentoring Capabilities
N/A
For as long as you've known him, and you've known him almost your entire life, Meng Chao's been odd. Interacting with him has always been a matter of exchange, even conversation has felt some of this. Despite that, you're friends now, with some of those transactional details that can be worked out later.
Character Details
Resonance
Mei Mei says his resonance is based around connections, whatever that means.
Derived Stats
N/A
Mentoring Capabilities
N/A
Her life before yours is what Mei Mei always says, and she's attempted to prove it at least twice that you know of. She's been your attendant and constant shadow since the day you were born. She's also the second best pillow you've ever had.
She's been at the peak of the Amber Soul for as long as you've been alive, but lately there's been hints that she might be close to breaking through.
Character Details
Resonance
She says it's the flash of a blade that you don't see even as it kills you... Mei Mei's kind of scary like that.
Derived Stats
N/A
Mentoring Capabilities
N/A
It's not easy to encompass everything your father means to you, to the province, to everything, but if you had to, he would be the sun around which everything orbits. You've never had even the slightest cause to doubt your father's love for you, but sometimes you wonder if it wouldn't be easier if he did doubt. Maybe your failures would sting just a bit less if that were true.
Character Details
Resonance
Pops makes things, paints them, carves them, occasionally forges them, and then gives them life and absurd powers.
Derived Stats
N/A
Mentoring Capabilities
N/A
You've always hated, and honestly, loved to hate Luo Lifen, a sentiment that had until just the other day seemed mutual. Now she hates your newest friend, and by extension you, with a loathing completely out of line with what it had been.
Character Details
Resonance
Being a manipulative pig.
Derived Stats
Like she'd ever be good at anything
Mentoring Capabilities
There's hundreds of hells you would prefer to visit before entering the one where that pig tries to teach you anything.
She teaches your cultivation class. You don't know much more about her.
Character Details
Resonance
She manipulated space, at least you think that's what it was, during your first cultivation class.
Derived Stats
N/A
Mentoring Capabilities
N/A
He teaches your combat class. The only thing you think you know about him is that he likes to laugh and smile.
Character Details
Resonance
He appeared to have mastery over sound, or maybe runes, during your first combat class.
Derived Stats
N/A
Mentoring Capabilities
N/A
Last edited:
Mechanics
Affinity
Successful cultivation relies on two factors unique to each cultivator: affinity and talent. Affinity is the ability of a cultivator to draw in the energies of Heaven and Earth. This intake of energy is a function of the size, number, and purity of their meridians, all of which may be increased via rare cultivation resources and techniques.
Mechanically: a cultivator receives a base of 1d10 per each dot of affinity they possess. These d10 (and any d10 resulting from any other source) are rolled against that cultivator's talent to determine the amount of cultivation progress gained (whether in base cultivation, Qi cultivation, opening meridians, or cultivating arts and techniques).
Talent
A cultivator's talent is their ability to retain the energies they take in during cultivation. It is a direct manifestation of the purity of their Diamond Soul (shattered, fissured, cracked, marred, scuffed, pure, luminous, radiant). Few in the history of the Eternal Empire can boast of a luminous core, and a radiant core is considered little more than myth.
Mechanically: a cultivator has a talent score of 1 + Diamond Soul Purity. The sum of affinity dice are rolled against that talent score and a success is recorded if the value is less than or equal to the talent score.
Qi
Qi is an internal energy drawn passively from the environment by a cultivator. It is expended to utilize cultivation arts and activate artifacts. Qi can be increased by direct cultivation of if, as a side effect of rare cultivation resources, as a bonus to unlocking levels of cultivation arts, rare cultivation sites, and certain events.
Mechanically: a cultivator has 1 or more dots of Qi that can be expended in the following manner: Qi cost = Qi - 3 (free usage of art), Qi - 2 (liberal use of art), Qi - 1 (handful of uses) Qi - 0 (singular use). Each dot of qi requires twenty successes.
Meridians
Meridians are channels within the body and soul that conduct energy to and from the Core and Peripheral Souls. The process of opening and attuning meridians gradually increases the affinity for cultivation energy that a cultivator has.
Mechanically: a cultivator starts with 1 meridian open (the minimum required to cultivate). The first ten meridians requires one more success than the meridian previous to it. Meridians 11 - 20 require two more successes than the meridian previous to it, 21 - 30 require three more, and so on. Each opened meridian provides a 1 dice bonus to affinity. Multiple meridians can be opened in one cultivation session.
Successful cultivation relies on two factors unique to each cultivator: affinity and talent. Affinity is the ability of a cultivator to draw in the energies of Heaven and Earth. This intake of energy is a function of the size, number, and purity of their meridians, all of which may be increased via rare cultivation resources and techniques.
Mechanically: a cultivator receives a base of 1d10 per each dot of affinity they possess. These d10 (and any d10 resulting from any other source) are rolled against that cultivator's talent to determine the amount of cultivation progress gained (whether in base cultivation, Qi cultivation, opening meridians, or cultivating arts and techniques).
Talent
A cultivator's talent is their ability to retain the energies they take in during cultivation. It is a direct manifestation of the purity of their Diamond Soul (shattered, fissured, cracked, marred, scuffed, pure, luminous, radiant). Few in the history of the Eternal Empire can boast of a luminous core, and a radiant core is considered little more than myth.
Mechanically: a cultivator has a talent score of 1 + Diamond Soul Purity. The sum of affinity dice are rolled against that talent score and a success is recorded if the value is less than or equal to the talent score.
Qi
Qi is an internal energy drawn passively from the environment by a cultivator. It is expended to utilize cultivation arts and activate artifacts. Qi can be increased by direct cultivation of if, as a side effect of rare cultivation resources, as a bonus to unlocking levels of cultivation arts, rare cultivation sites, and certain events.
Mechanically: a cultivator has 1 or more dots of Qi that can be expended in the following manner: Qi cost = Qi - 3 (free usage of art), Qi - 2 (liberal use of art), Qi - 1 (handful of uses) Qi - 0 (singular use). Each dot of qi requires twenty successes.
Meridians
Meridians are channels within the body and soul that conduct energy to and from the Core and Peripheral Souls. The process of opening and attuning meridians gradually increases the affinity for cultivation energy that a cultivator has.
Mechanically: a cultivator starts with 1 meridian open (the minimum required to cultivate). The first ten meridians requires one more success than the meridian previous to it. Meridians 11 - 20 require two more successes than the meridian previous to it, 21 - 30 require three more, and so on. Each opened meridian provides a 1 dice bonus to affinity. Multiple meridians can be opened in one cultivation session.
Cultivation Resources
Pills, elixirs, talismans, and other items are commonly available for cultivators of the Lesser Souls. The simplest of these being the spirit gem of quartz, pearl, agate, and amber. A stone of the requisite level is required to cultivate with more than minimal efficacy.
Resources available for the Greater Souls are considerably rarer. Quantities of these resources sufficient to support cultivators is typically held by the large imperial institutes (Clans, Sects, Bureaucracies, etc.) with access gated by the performance of deeds and tasks in service to said institutes.
Mechanically: cultivating without an applicable cultivation resource carries with it a 50% reduction in the number of affinity dice available.
Usage of more than one spirit gem provides a stacking bonus of [3 * (level of ore or gem)] up to a maximum of [1 + (cultivation level)]. Thus an Agate Souled (third level) cultivator may use 4 spirit agates for a total bonus of [3 * 3 * 4] = 36 bonus dice.
Resources may add dice either additively (common) or multiplicatively (rare).
Cultivation Sites
Certain places are imbued with a surfeit of aspected qi. These sites, once found, may be attuned to and that extra qi siphoned off to strengthen a cultivator. Some sites allow multiple cultivators to attune to it while others can only be attuned to by one individual.
Mechanically: a cultivator receives bonuses for each cultivation site they have attuned to, and may attune to a number of sites equal to 1 + (cultivation level).
Talismans
Talismans are crafted by cultivators focused on the Dao of Creation, or a subset thereof. They utilize certain qi rich materials in the crafting process and can be customized to an individual cultivator. Cultivators may equip a number of talismans equal to 1 + cultivation level.
Mechanically: talismans provide passive bonuses to a single attribute, skill, derived stat, or similar.
Artifacts
Artifacts are a subset of talismans that have been crafted by a cultivator of the Dao of Creation who has awakened at least one of their Greater Souls. These items are then, it is said, imbued with the mote of the cultivator's Shen. As a result artifacts are both more versatile and more powerful than their talisman counterparts. Artifacts have specific restrictions upon their attunement and use, up to and including approval of the artifact spirit itself.
Even the least of these items is valuable to the point that few, even among the great clans of the Seven Kingdoms can claim to own one prior to awakening their first Greater Soul.
Mechanically: artifacts provide significant passive bonuses as well as potent activated effects. An artifact counts as a talisman for purposes of calculating how many of such items may be equipped.
Cultivation Stages
Progress through each level of cultivation includes distinct stages (e.g. early, middle, late). These stages provide qualitative and mechanical bonuses against opponents and challenges.
Mechanically: each stage of difference between a cultivator and their opponent or challenge level provides 1 additional dice to that DC.
Cultivation Levels
Progress through the Lesser Souls (sequentially: Quartz, Pearl, Agate, and Amber) provides uniform enhancements to cultivators, while progress through the Greater Souls (sequentially: Opal, Sapphire, Ruby, and Emerald) provides unique bonuses based upon the Dao and resonance of the cultivator.
Mechanically: each level of difference between a cultivator and their opponent or challenge level provides 2 automatic successes to that DC.
Breakthroughs
Once the peak of a cultivation level is reached a cultivator may attempt to breakthrough to the next cultivation level. The cultivator enters closed door cultivation and either succeeds in the breakthrough or exhausts their energies in failure and must make another attempt later.
Mechanically: a cultivator receives 2 attempts per dedicated action to breakthrough. This occurs as a 1d100 roll where breakthrough is successful when > (100 - Talent * 10). Each level of cultivation requires a number of successes = 2 * Cultivation Level. Each failure reduces the number of successes by one and a failure with no successes results in the loss of half of the cultivation experience gained from the last stage prior to peak.
Thus Quan Jia's breakthrough to Quartz Soul would require 2 successes with a DC of > 60 while Pearl Soul would require 4 successes, and so on.
Pills, elixirs, talismans, and other items are commonly available for cultivators of the Lesser Souls. The simplest of these being the spirit gem of quartz, pearl, agate, and amber. A stone of the requisite level is required to cultivate with more than minimal efficacy.
Resources available for the Greater Souls are considerably rarer. Quantities of these resources sufficient to support cultivators is typically held by the large imperial institutes (Clans, Sects, Bureaucracies, etc.) with access gated by the performance of deeds and tasks in service to said institutes.
Mechanically: cultivating without an applicable cultivation resource carries with it a 50% reduction in the number of affinity dice available.
Usage of more than one spirit gem provides a stacking bonus of [3 * (level of ore or gem)] up to a maximum of [1 + (cultivation level)]. Thus an Agate Souled (third level) cultivator may use 4 spirit agates for a total bonus of [3 * 3 * 4] = 36 bonus dice.
Resources may add dice either additively (common) or multiplicatively (rare).
Cultivation Sites
Certain places are imbued with a surfeit of aspected qi. These sites, once found, may be attuned to and that extra qi siphoned off to strengthen a cultivator. Some sites allow multiple cultivators to attune to it while others can only be attuned to by one individual.
Mechanically: a cultivator receives bonuses for each cultivation site they have attuned to, and may attune to a number of sites equal to 1 + (cultivation level).
Talismans
Talismans are crafted by cultivators focused on the Dao of Creation, or a subset thereof. They utilize certain qi rich materials in the crafting process and can be customized to an individual cultivator. Cultivators may equip a number of talismans equal to 1 + cultivation level.
Mechanically: talismans provide passive bonuses to a single attribute, skill, derived stat, or similar.
Artifacts
Artifacts are a subset of talismans that have been crafted by a cultivator of the Dao of Creation who has awakened at least one of their Greater Souls. These items are then, it is said, imbued with the mote of the cultivator's Shen. As a result artifacts are both more versatile and more powerful than their talisman counterparts. Artifacts have specific restrictions upon their attunement and use, up to and including approval of the artifact spirit itself.
Even the least of these items is valuable to the point that few, even among the great clans of the Seven Kingdoms can claim to own one prior to awakening their first Greater Soul.
Mechanically: artifacts provide significant passive bonuses as well as potent activated effects. An artifact counts as a talisman for purposes of calculating how many of such items may be equipped.
Cultivation Stages
Progress through each level of cultivation includes distinct stages (e.g. early, middle, late). These stages provide qualitative and mechanical bonuses against opponents and challenges.
Mechanically: each stage of difference between a cultivator and their opponent or challenge level provides 1 additional dice to that DC.
Cultivation Levels
Progress through the Lesser Souls (sequentially: Quartz, Pearl, Agate, and Amber) provides uniform enhancements to cultivators, while progress through the Greater Souls (sequentially: Opal, Sapphire, Ruby, and Emerald) provides unique bonuses based upon the Dao and resonance of the cultivator.
Mechanically: each level of difference between a cultivator and their opponent or challenge level provides 2 automatic successes to that DC.
Breakthroughs
Once the peak of a cultivation level is reached a cultivator may attempt to breakthrough to the next cultivation level. The cultivator enters closed door cultivation and either succeeds in the breakthrough or exhausts their energies in failure and must make another attempt later.
Mechanically: a cultivator receives 2 attempts per dedicated action to breakthrough. This occurs as a 1d100 roll where breakthrough is successful when > (100 - Talent * 10). Each level of cultivation requires a number of successes = 2 * Cultivation Level. Each failure reduces the number of successes by one and a failure with no successes results in the loss of half of the cultivation experience gained from the last stage prior to peak.
Thus Quan Jia's breakthrough to Quartz Soul would require 2 successes with a DC of > 60 while Pearl Soul would require 4 successes, and so on.
Cultivation Arts
A cultivation art is an exploration of the themes and elements of the universe or of the self and an almost endless variety of cultivation arts exist. Arts can create or strengthen Dao insights, increase physical or cultivation attributes, enhance the speed and efficiency with which one cultivates, or permanently alter how the cultivator interacts with the world around them.
Mechanically: Arts provide bonuses to stats and attributes and differ from techniques in that they only provide passive bonuses.
Cultivation Techniques
A cultivation technique is an expression of the themes and elements imbued within a cultivator's core or peripheral souls.
Mechanically: techniques utilize qi to temporarily change some aspect of themselves or the world around them
Physical Technique
Any cultivation art which creates a physical manifestation of change is considered a physical art. This can include an art which generates a beam of molten sunlight as well as an art which transforms the user into glittering shards of stone. Edge cases can confuse the issue, but a good rule of thumb is that if you can dodge the attack it's a physical technique
Esoteric Technique
Arts which don't fall easily into the category of physical arts are considered esoteric arts. This can include an art which allows for long distance communication as well as an art which allows the user to catalog and process enormous amounts of information. Conversely to physical techniques, if a technique must be endured or otherwise surpassed, it is typically esoteric.
A cultivation art is an exploration of the themes and elements of the universe or of the self and an almost endless variety of cultivation arts exist. Arts can create or strengthen Dao insights, increase physical or cultivation attributes, enhance the speed and efficiency with which one cultivates, or permanently alter how the cultivator interacts with the world around them.
Mechanically: Arts provide bonuses to stats and attributes and differ from techniques in that they only provide passive bonuses.
Cultivation Techniques
A cultivation technique is an expression of the themes and elements imbued within a cultivator's core or peripheral souls.
Mechanically: techniques utilize qi to temporarily change some aspect of themselves or the world around them
Physical Technique
Any cultivation art which creates a physical manifestation of change is considered a physical art. This can include an art which generates a beam of molten sunlight as well as an art which transforms the user into glittering shards of stone. Edge cases can confuse the issue, but a good rule of thumb is that if you can dodge the attack it's a physical technique
Esoteric Technique
Arts which don't fall easily into the category of physical arts are considered esoteric arts. This can include an art which allows for long distance communication as well as an art which allows the user to catalog and process enormous amounts of information. Conversely to physical techniques, if a technique must be endured or otherwise surpassed, it is typically esoteric.
Cultivation relies on two particular factors, the first is affinity and the second is talent.
Affinity is a measure of how much qi a cultivator can draw in during cultivation reflected as a pool of d10. Affinity is the sum of all meridians, all bound cultivation site bonuses, any minor affinities, and any cultivation resources.
In Quan Jia's case, she has a base affinity of 6. She has a minor affinity for Slumber which provides a +2 bonus to cultivating arts and techniques with the Slumber keyword (this does not apply to base cultivation). She also has an artifact that provides a multiplier of 1.2 to most cultivation attempts (since this is the tutorial, it also does not apply here). As a final bonus, she has access to a vent at her estate that provides a +3 bonus to affinity (this also does not apply for this tutorial). Finally, since she is cultivating with an appropriate level of spirit-gem, she can negate the 50% penalty to cultivation that applies when cultivating without it.
Thus, Quan Jia's final affinity results in a pool of 6d10
Talent is a measure of how much of the qi drawn in by a cultivators affinity score is retained. Talent is represented as the purity of a cultivator's diamond core (though npcs do not necessarily have their talent reflected as whole numbers). Talent interacts with affinity via the following rule: each dice of affinity is rolled, and any result equal to or less than a cultivator's talent equates to an increase of 1 to the thing being cultivated.
Unlike affinity, talent can only be increased by certain, incredibly rare, events.
In Quan Jia's case, she has a base talent of 4. She does not have any major affinities which would provide a +1 bonus to talent when cultivating arts or techniques with that keyword.
Thus Quan Jia's final cultivation attributes for this particular cultivation attempt are 6d10 and 4
6d10 = 08 04 02 06 02 08 = 3 successes = 3 xp
Cultivation
Level: Diamond Soul
Stage: Mid
XP: 0/40 -> 3/40
Affinity is a measure of how much qi a cultivator can draw in during cultivation reflected as a pool of d10. Affinity is the sum of all meridians, all bound cultivation site bonuses, any minor affinities, and any cultivation resources.
In Quan Jia's case, she has a base affinity of 6. She has a minor affinity for Slumber which provides a +2 bonus to cultivating arts and techniques with the Slumber keyword (this does not apply to base cultivation). She also has an artifact that provides a multiplier of 1.2 to most cultivation attempts (since this is the tutorial, it also does not apply here). As a final bonus, she has access to a vent at her estate that provides a +3 bonus to affinity (this also does not apply for this tutorial). Finally, since she is cultivating with an appropriate level of spirit-gem, she can negate the 50% penalty to cultivation that applies when cultivating without it.
Thus, Quan Jia's final affinity results in a pool of 6d10
Talent is a measure of how much of the qi drawn in by a cultivators affinity score is retained. Talent is represented as the purity of a cultivator's diamond core (though npcs do not necessarily have their talent reflected as whole numbers). Talent interacts with affinity via the following rule: each dice of affinity is rolled, and any result equal to or less than a cultivator's talent equates to an increase of 1 to the thing being cultivated.
Unlike affinity, talent can only be increased by certain, incredibly rare, events.
In Quan Jia's case, she has a base talent of 4. She does not have any major affinities which would provide a +1 bonus to talent when cultivating arts or techniques with that keyword.
Thus Quan Jia's final cultivation attributes for this particular cultivation attempt are 6d10 and 4
6d10 = 08 04 02 06 02 08 = 3 successes = 3 xp
Cultivation
Level: Diamond Soul
Stage: Mid
XP: 0/40 -> 3/40
Last edited:
Vote closed
A Nap Interrupted
Set along the ridges of Heavensmount as it juts bladelike out of the stillness of the Azure Mirror is the Imperial City. Encompassed within those, inviolate, iridescent walls are the three pillars of Empire.
Ringed around the peaks of that singular mountain lie the first of those pillars of the Eternal Empire: the High Clans. Those august lineages hailing from both the core kingdoms and the provinces plot and scheme to ascend ever higher. For to climb the Heavensmount is to claim preeminence within the empire.
As the nobility of the Empire have claimed the exterior of the mountain, so have the Imperial Bureaucracies claimed the interior. Within massive massive hollowed out caverns and strung between a web-like array of tunnels are the seven great bureaucracies. Here the apparatus of government becomes a manifestation of the Empress's Will.
Below the heights, where unimaginable wealth and incomparable power can be won or lost with the flickering of an eye are the great harbors and trade centers of the Empire. Through bustling fora of trade and endless warehouses flow goods both raw and finished from the farthest corners of the empire and beyond. It is here that trading consortia, and ambitious lesser noble clans alike, arrange the trade deals that are the lifeblood of the Empire.
A Traveler's Guide Vol. IX: The Heart of Eternity. Published under the auspices of the Ministry of Radiant Culture. Author Unattributed.
"You are Count Quan Jin's daughter, no?"
The question pulls Quan Jia from the comfortingly warm embrace of an afternoon nap, one brought on by the gentle rocking of the carriage and a delightful lunch. Blinking owlishly, she lifts her head from Liu Mei's shoulder and smiles thankfully up at her attendant before turning her attention toward where the question had originated.
What meets her gaze is a boy sitting properly, his back ramrod straight, in loose bright crimson and gold robes. A focused sort of intensity is painted on the intruder's face while dark brown eyes bore into her.
All considered, it's a handsome face, meticulously framed by shoulder length blond hair, but unfortunately devoid of any of the myriad imperfections that made people interesting. It was also a face she'd seen dozens of times, at any one of a dozen of the different, and tediously boring, old people events that her dad liked to host.
Do they all get together and discuss what they're going to look like in some secret meeting or do they come from a factory with that face pre-installed.
The thought of mechanical hands slapping faces onto a long line of faceless Diamond Souled cultivators brings a slight smile to her face. A smile that makes her wipe discreetly at the edge of her mouth where a trickle of saliva had gathered.
Hopefully Mei Mei won't notice the spot of drool on her dress.
As her chain of thought rounds finally back around to what the boy had asked, Quan Jia manages a muddled sort of response that's caught somewhere between the confusion of her drifting thoughts and a rather solid desire to fall back asleep. "Pops? Yeah, that's him. I mean, that's me."
There's an incredulous sort of shock that flashes across the boy's face and he seems to mouth pops to himself before pasting on one of those practiced, courtier's smiles.
So boring.
[1d3 - 1 = 3 - 1 = 2. Relationship with Zhang Bao starts at 2]
His head dips respectfully, "Lady Quan Jia. I am Zhang Bao, eldest son of Baron Zhang Chao, one of Count Quan's many loyal retainers."
Quan Jia hums disinterestedly in response and her eyes drift toward the scenery blurring by outside the nearby window. Moments away from blatantly ignoring him in favor of returning to sleep, she perks up slightly as an old memory slides into place, "Cherry Orchards… I remember riding beneath a rain of pink petals with dad one spring."
"Father was quite proud that his estates were chosen for the…" the boy smiles proudly and speaks, or at least his lips move, but Quan Jia's thoughts are already caught in memory.
A sprinkling rain of pale pink petals floats along a gentle breeze, settling lightly along her hair and dancing in front of her eyes. Enraptured by the rain of pink , Quan Jia's eyes follows one particularly brave petal as it settles in the thick black hair of her father's beard.
Father laughs as he notices her focus, and reaches out a scarred hand to tousle silvery blonde hair. Childishly, and at that point she would have been no more than six, she bats at his hand, and eventually he pulls back, still amused.
An unfamiliar tug pulls at her hair, and Quan Jia reaches up, smiling delightedly as she plucks a wreath of pink and white petals from atop her head. The horse underneath her continues its steady plodding pace as she drops reins and twists the wreath about, admiring the seamless connection of between what must have been hundreds of tiny flowers.
"Thanks pops," she chirps and hops, limbs flailing, out of the saddle to hug her dad. Those scarred hands catch her before she can fall, and settle her in front of him. Quan Jia plops the wreath back on her head proudly and leans forward the way dad did when he was paying real close attention to her.
An attentiveness that lasts for at least a minute before she's lulled back into slumber by the warmth and safety of her father's presence.
A sharp elbow digs into her side and draws her from memory. Turning betrayed eyes toward her attendant, a look Mei Mei studiously ignores, Quan Jia notices a somewhat expectant silence.
Zhang Bi. No, that's not it. Zhang Bai. No, not it either. Zhang… umm... well Zhang whatever his name was must have said something.
Quan Jia fidgets slightly in her seat as the silence lengthens but with absolutely no idea what's going on makes no move to speak.
Eventually, thankfully, Mei Mei decides to speak.
"Would Lord Zhang Bao," it's hard, at least due to their years of familiarity, for Quan Jia to miss the pointed emphasis Mei Mei places on the boy's first name. "Be willing to wait until my lady has become settled in the sect before providing an answer?"
It seemed, fortunately for her, that her continuing silence had robbed Zhang whatever of the bravery that had brought him over in the first place. The boy nods, just a touch quickly, and stands, just a touch more quickly and with a formal bow and the words, "Of course. Thank you Lady Quan Jia, for gracing me with your attention. Please forgive my interruption, I will leave you to your privacy." He practically flees.
Red robes practically flutter in the wake of his departure, and Quan Jia shrugs, leaning back on her attendant's shoulder and mumbles, "what'd he want anyways?"
"A date, I believe," is the wry response as Mei Mei shifts in a way that makes her a more comfortable pillow. "Though given how you noble types like to talk around things, he might have been challenging you to a duel."
"Don't want either," Quan Jia doesn't quite whine, "he's too boring."
There's a slight sigh, one Quan Jia can feel in the shift of her attendant's shoulders, but can't hear as she replies, "that my lady would have such a particular criteria for judging others. Though I suppose I should be thankful that those criteria fall in my favor."
"I like it," Quan Jia murmurs, already feeling the pull of sleep. "makes you look cool."
Above her head, eyes covered in bandages of embroidered silk crinkle at the edges in the faintest of smiles.
[Didn't see any natural place to insert the vote in, so instead you get a completely awkward transition to a vote that has very little to do with the chapter, though not nothing.
Since Quan Jia has been awakened for a period of months now, she has already imbued her Diamond Core with a resonance. This resonance is a theme or idea that forms the foundation of her future cultivation. Additionally, a cultivator may only use arts and techniques that have at least some overlap with the theme of their Diamond Core.
For purposes of the quest, the theme chosen will inform both the narrative approach Quan Jia takes to things as well as the flavor of how she cultivates. There is no mechanical difference in choosing one option vs. another. Dao insights as well as the imbuement of peripheral souls with different sub-themes can allow any theme to accomplish almost anything.
[] Slumber. One day while Quan Jia was hiding from her tutor, she happened upon a particularly inviting patch of grass underneath the flowing boughs of a willow tree. There, in sleep, she awoke, and realized that the line between somnolence and consciousness wasn't quite as stark as she had thought.
[] Reverie. Years of dull lessons on exactly how far to curtsey or which fingers should hold a teacup in a formal tea ceremony honed an ability within Quan Jia to distance thought from reality. One day that separation crystallized into an awareness that internal reality could take precedence over the outer one.
[] Nature. The view outside her bedroom window overlooked a riot of vibrant colors in spring, an untamed verdancy in summer, the burning embers of autumn, and the quiet slumber of winter. As years passed by, the cycle of seasons, of growth and death and rebirth, settled deeply in her soul and sowed a seed of understanding.
[A/N]
As I was thinking more deeply about Quan Jia's character, it became quickly apparent that an affinity for fire didn't really fit with how I wanted to characterize her. I don't think that particular point was a deciding factor (since it wasn't really reflected in the voting option) but I apologize anyway. Instead you'll get a minor affinity (mechanics to be revealed in an upcoming chapter) in whatever you choose as a resonance for your Diamond Soul.
I think there will be one more character creation chapter or at least a vote on character creation stuff.
Ringed around the peaks of that singular mountain lie the first of those pillars of the Eternal Empire: the High Clans. Those august lineages hailing from both the core kingdoms and the provinces plot and scheme to ascend ever higher. For to climb the Heavensmount is to claim preeminence within the empire.
As the nobility of the Empire have claimed the exterior of the mountain, so have the Imperial Bureaucracies claimed the interior. Within massive massive hollowed out caverns and strung between a web-like array of tunnels are the seven great bureaucracies. Here the apparatus of government becomes a manifestation of the Empress's Will.
Below the heights, where unimaginable wealth and incomparable power can be won or lost with the flickering of an eye are the great harbors and trade centers of the Empire. Through bustling fora of trade and endless warehouses flow goods both raw and finished from the farthest corners of the empire and beyond. It is here that trading consortia, and ambitious lesser noble clans alike, arrange the trade deals that are the lifeblood of the Empire.
A Traveler's Guide Vol. IX: The Heart of Eternity. Published under the auspices of the Ministry of Radiant Culture. Author Unattributed.
"You are Count Quan Jin's daughter, no?"
The question pulls Quan Jia from the comfortingly warm embrace of an afternoon nap, one brought on by the gentle rocking of the carriage and a delightful lunch. Blinking owlishly, she lifts her head from Liu Mei's shoulder and smiles thankfully up at her attendant before turning her attention toward where the question had originated.
What meets her gaze is a boy sitting properly, his back ramrod straight, in loose bright crimson and gold robes. A focused sort of intensity is painted on the intruder's face while dark brown eyes bore into her.
All considered, it's a handsome face, meticulously framed by shoulder length blond hair, but unfortunately devoid of any of the myriad imperfections that made people interesting. It was also a face she'd seen dozens of times, at any one of a dozen of the different, and tediously boring, old people events that her dad liked to host.
Do they all get together and discuss what they're going to look like in some secret meeting or do they come from a factory with that face pre-installed.
The thought of mechanical hands slapping faces onto a long line of faceless Diamond Souled cultivators brings a slight smile to her face. A smile that makes her wipe discreetly at the edge of her mouth where a trickle of saliva had gathered.
Hopefully Mei Mei won't notice the spot of drool on her dress.
As her chain of thought rounds finally back around to what the boy had asked, Quan Jia manages a muddled sort of response that's caught somewhere between the confusion of her drifting thoughts and a rather solid desire to fall back asleep. "Pops? Yeah, that's him. I mean, that's me."
There's an incredulous sort of shock that flashes across the boy's face and he seems to mouth pops to himself before pasting on one of those practiced, courtier's smiles.
So boring.
[1d3 - 1 = 3 - 1 = 2. Relationship with Zhang Bao starts at 2]
His head dips respectfully, "Lady Quan Jia. I am Zhang Bao, eldest son of Baron Zhang Chao, one of Count Quan's many loyal retainers."
Quan Jia hums disinterestedly in response and her eyes drift toward the scenery blurring by outside the nearby window. Moments away from blatantly ignoring him in favor of returning to sleep, she perks up slightly as an old memory slides into place, "Cherry Orchards… I remember riding beneath a rain of pink petals with dad one spring."
"Father was quite proud that his estates were chosen for the…" the boy smiles proudly and speaks, or at least his lips move, but Quan Jia's thoughts are already caught in memory.
A sprinkling rain of pale pink petals floats along a gentle breeze, settling lightly along her hair and dancing in front of her eyes. Enraptured by the rain of pink , Quan Jia's eyes follows one particularly brave petal as it settles in the thick black hair of her father's beard.
Father laughs as he notices her focus, and reaches out a scarred hand to tousle silvery blonde hair. Childishly, and at that point she would have been no more than six, she bats at his hand, and eventually he pulls back, still amused.
An unfamiliar tug pulls at her hair, and Quan Jia reaches up, smiling delightedly as she plucks a wreath of pink and white petals from atop her head. The horse underneath her continues its steady plodding pace as she drops reins and twists the wreath about, admiring the seamless connection of between what must have been hundreds of tiny flowers.
"Thanks pops," she chirps and hops, limbs flailing, out of the saddle to hug her dad. Those scarred hands catch her before she can fall, and settle her in front of him. Quan Jia plops the wreath back on her head proudly and leans forward the way dad did when he was paying real close attention to her.
An attentiveness that lasts for at least a minute before she's lulled back into slumber by the warmth and safety of her father's presence.
A sharp elbow digs into her side and draws her from memory. Turning betrayed eyes toward her attendant, a look Mei Mei studiously ignores, Quan Jia notices a somewhat expectant silence.
Zhang Bi. No, that's not it. Zhang Bai. No, not it either. Zhang… umm... well Zhang whatever his name was must have said something.
Quan Jia fidgets slightly in her seat as the silence lengthens but with absolutely no idea what's going on makes no move to speak.
Eventually, thankfully, Mei Mei decides to speak.
"Would Lord Zhang Bao," it's hard, at least due to their years of familiarity, for Quan Jia to miss the pointed emphasis Mei Mei places on the boy's first name. "Be willing to wait until my lady has become settled in the sect before providing an answer?"
It seemed, fortunately for her, that her continuing silence had robbed Zhang whatever of the bravery that had brought him over in the first place. The boy nods, just a touch quickly, and stands, just a touch more quickly and with a formal bow and the words, "Of course. Thank you Lady Quan Jia, for gracing me with your attention. Please forgive my interruption, I will leave you to your privacy." He practically flees.
Red robes practically flutter in the wake of his departure, and Quan Jia shrugs, leaning back on her attendant's shoulder and mumbles, "what'd he want anyways?"
"A date, I believe," is the wry response as Mei Mei shifts in a way that makes her a more comfortable pillow. "Though given how you noble types like to talk around things, he might have been challenging you to a duel."
"Don't want either," Quan Jia doesn't quite whine, "he's too boring."
There's a slight sigh, one Quan Jia can feel in the shift of her attendant's shoulders, but can't hear as she replies, "that my lady would have such a particular criteria for judging others. Though I suppose I should be thankful that those criteria fall in my favor."
"I like it," Quan Jia murmurs, already feeling the pull of sleep. "makes you look cool."
Above her head, eyes covered in bandages of embroidered silk crinkle at the edges in the faintest of smiles.
[Didn't see any natural place to insert the vote in, so instead you get a completely awkward transition to a vote that has very little to do with the chapter, though not nothing.
Since Quan Jia has been awakened for a period of months now, she has already imbued her Diamond Core with a resonance. This resonance is a theme or idea that forms the foundation of her future cultivation. Additionally, a cultivator may only use arts and techniques that have at least some overlap with the theme of their Diamond Core.
For purposes of the quest, the theme chosen will inform both the narrative approach Quan Jia takes to things as well as the flavor of how she cultivates. There is no mechanical difference in choosing one option vs. another. Dao insights as well as the imbuement of peripheral souls with different sub-themes can allow any theme to accomplish almost anything.
[] Slumber. One day while Quan Jia was hiding from her tutor, she happened upon a particularly inviting patch of grass underneath the flowing boughs of a willow tree. There, in sleep, she awoke, and realized that the line between somnolence and consciousness wasn't quite as stark as she had thought.
[] Reverie. Years of dull lessons on exactly how far to curtsey or which fingers should hold a teacup in a formal tea ceremony honed an ability within Quan Jia to distance thought from reality. One day that separation crystallized into an awareness that internal reality could take precedence over the outer one.
[] Nature. The view outside her bedroom window overlooked a riot of vibrant colors in spring, an untamed verdancy in summer, the burning embers of autumn, and the quiet slumber of winter. As years passed by, the cycle of seasons, of growth and death and rebirth, settled deeply in her soul and sowed a seed of understanding.
[A/N]
As I was thinking more deeply about Quan Jia's character, it became quickly apparent that an affinity for fire didn't really fit with how I wanted to characterize her. I don't think that particular point was a deciding factor (since it wasn't really reflected in the voting option) but I apologize anyway. Instead you'll get a minor affinity (mechanics to be revealed in an upcoming chapter) in whatever you choose as a resonance for your Diamond Soul.
I think there will be one more character creation chapter or at least a vote on character creation stuff.
A Nap Resumed
In the forty-second year after The Migration, while the embers of the War of Bonfires were smoldering out and the ashes of genocide still rained, the Ji, led at the time by King Ji An negotiated the first of many treaties with the Court of Verdant Stillness. In exchange for peace and propitiation, the Ji were granted knowledge and a home. With this peace secured, the immigration of the Ji into the sprawling primordial forests west of the Azure Mirror could begin.
To commemorate this momentous event, deep within the forest, a single oak tree was planted. By the end of the First Age it towered mountainously over the surrounding forest canopy, and for nearly a hundred millennia the Concord of Emerald has served as both the home of the Ji and the capital city of the Kingdom. The city, divided by a forest canopy thick enough that it casts all below it into perpetual twilight is the sole spot of civilization within the Green.
The highest boughs of the city, given to the light of the sun and visible on a clear day from the far distant peaks of Heavensmount, are the sole province of the royal clan and all its myriad offshoots. Though few, even of the highest ranked amongst the Ji will ever be found wandering these branches. Instead, ritual and the wandering pacification of rogue spirits consume the days of those born to such heights, for it to them that the responsibility of Treaty falls.
As the miles wide branches of the Concord dip beneath the forest canopy, noble estates shift to artifice. It is here, in the countless thousands of apothecaries that sprout like moss from these branches that the knowledge granted their forebears by the Verdant Court is turned into exotic pills and elixirs consumed in every corner of the Empire.
A Brief History of the Ji, Scholar Zhou Song, 3rd Age, 75th Year of of Our Glorious Empress, Dawn's Fire Li Lian, forever may her light shine.
Mei Mei was a top three pillow, right behind dad, who was sadly too busy these days to act as a pillow, and right ahead of her Comfy Pillow. Second place was high praise indeed, after all, few could claim to be more comfy than a pillow woven Jade Spider's silk and then stuffed with wisps of summer clouds.
Engulfed as she was in this wrapping of comfort, Quan Jia's mind began to drift, almost inevitably, toward that lattice of glittering purity in her soul. As they first had that day in the orchard when she had awoken, her thoughts fell, down through metaphorical and metaphysical layers of her self, before stopping at the centermost part of her being.
There, floating in within a pure black void was her Diamond Core: a fist sized piece of shimmering radiance cut with a thousand faceted faces and embarrassingly, humiliatingly, marred with several unsightly cracks. Focusing past the pain of that with the ease of practice, she drifted lazily around the diamond and contemplated six veins of silvery light that anchored onto her core and stretched off into the blackness beyond.
Six meridians, each opened with painstaking effort and too much of dad's wealth, pulsed in time to her heartbeat. Six meridians, each gnarled and twisted, broken in the same way her core was, drew in the polluted qi of the world to be purified and retained. At least that's how it was supposed to go, based on the exhaustingly boring lectures she'd attended. That tidy description hardly matched what she saw in front of her though. Instead of a steady flow of energy brought in by her meridians and retained by her core, chaotic spurts of qi flooded into her core and then drained out almost as quickly, gushing out from those humiliating imperfections.
Why even bother cultivating, so little qi stays behind… dad should have...
For a time, she stayed there, watching the flow of qi as it enters and exits her Diamond Core. Watching as heaviness pulls at her chest and tightens around her throat.
Eventually though, Quan Jia turns away, she has to.
Sorry pops…
The apology flitters off, and with it her earlier focus. After all, dwelling on things never made them any better. That was a lesson she had first learned years ago, one that had since worn deep, smooth grooves in her mind.
It wasn't all bad though…
Her attention shifts from her core to a tiny, shimmering mote of Sleep as it circles in a slow orbit. There at least was a mark of success, or at least not failure. With a thought, her own lazy drifting speeds up until it matches pace with the mote. As she closes in on the mote, the pulsing waves of drowsy contentment it emanates grow stronger. Drawn in by the essence of her nascent cultivation art as it resonates with her, Quan Jia yawns hugely and lets her eyes drift closed.
How delightful, to sleep while sleeping…
[] Thousand Winter's Hibernation
[] Instincts of the Sleeping Warrior
[] Dreamer's Endless Journey
A/N
Short chapter this time, next one will be a bit longer and the first view of the sect, I think.
To commemorate this momentous event, deep within the forest, a single oak tree was planted. By the end of the First Age it towered mountainously over the surrounding forest canopy, and for nearly a hundred millennia the Concord of Emerald has served as both the home of the Ji and the capital city of the Kingdom. The city, divided by a forest canopy thick enough that it casts all below it into perpetual twilight is the sole spot of civilization within the Green.
The highest boughs of the city, given to the light of the sun and visible on a clear day from the far distant peaks of Heavensmount, are the sole province of the royal clan and all its myriad offshoots. Though few, even of the highest ranked amongst the Ji will ever be found wandering these branches. Instead, ritual and the wandering pacification of rogue spirits consume the days of those born to such heights, for it to them that the responsibility of Treaty falls.
As the miles wide branches of the Concord dip beneath the forest canopy, noble estates shift to artifice. It is here, in the countless thousands of apothecaries that sprout like moss from these branches that the knowledge granted their forebears by the Verdant Court is turned into exotic pills and elixirs consumed in every corner of the Empire.
A Brief History of the Ji, Scholar Zhou Song, 3rd Age, 75th Year of of Our Glorious Empress, Dawn's Fire Li Lian, forever may her light shine.
Mei Mei was a top three pillow, right behind dad, who was sadly too busy these days to act as a pillow, and right ahead of her Comfy Pillow. Second place was high praise indeed, after all, few could claim to be more comfy than a pillow woven Jade Spider's silk and then stuffed with wisps of summer clouds.
Engulfed as she was in this wrapping of comfort, Quan Jia's mind began to drift, almost inevitably, toward that lattice of glittering purity in her soul. As they first had that day in the orchard when she had awoken, her thoughts fell, down through metaphorical and metaphysical layers of her self, before stopping at the centermost part of her being.
There, floating in within a pure black void was her Diamond Core: a fist sized piece of shimmering radiance cut with a thousand faceted faces and embarrassingly, humiliatingly, marred with several unsightly cracks. Focusing past the pain of that with the ease of practice, she drifted lazily around the diamond and contemplated six veins of silvery light that anchored onto her core and stretched off into the blackness beyond.
Six meridians, each opened with painstaking effort and too much of dad's wealth, pulsed in time to her heartbeat. Six meridians, each gnarled and twisted, broken in the same way her core was, drew in the polluted qi of the world to be purified and retained. At least that's how it was supposed to go, based on the exhaustingly boring lectures she'd attended. That tidy description hardly matched what she saw in front of her though. Instead of a steady flow of energy brought in by her meridians and retained by her core, chaotic spurts of qi flooded into her core and then drained out almost as quickly, gushing out from those humiliating imperfections.
Why even bother cultivating, so little qi stays behind… dad should have...
For a time, she stayed there, watching the flow of qi as it enters and exits her Diamond Core. Watching as heaviness pulls at her chest and tightens around her throat.
Eventually though, Quan Jia turns away, she has to.
Sorry pops…
The apology flitters off, and with it her earlier focus. After all, dwelling on things never made them any better. That was a lesson she had first learned years ago, one that had since worn deep, smooth grooves in her mind.
It wasn't all bad though…
Her attention shifts from her core to a tiny, shimmering mote of Sleep as it circles in a slow orbit. There at least was a mark of success, or at least not failure. With a thought, her own lazy drifting speeds up until it matches pace with the mote. As she closes in on the mote, the pulsing waves of drowsy contentment it emanates grow stronger. Drawn in by the essence of her nascent cultivation art as it resonates with her, Quan Jia yawns hugely and lets her eyes drift closed.
How delightful, to sleep while sleeping…
A cultivation art is an exploration of the themes and elements of the universe or of the self and an almost endless variety of cultivation arts exist.
Mechanically: Arts provide bonuses to stats and attributes (and other things) and differ from techniques in that they only provide passive bonuses. Passive bonuses are permanent once they have been unlocked. Not every level of an art will necessarily result in a bonus and some levels in an art are gated by cultivation or insight.
Only current and previously mastered levels of an art or technique will be viewable (mostly so I don't kill myself writing out 15 different descriptions all at once).
Potency: the minimum level and stage of cultivation required to cultivate an art or technique.
Growth: the number of levels a cultivation art or technique has that can be unlocked.
Major Theme: a cultivator must possess one or more of the themes listed in an art or technique in order to be able to cultivate it.
Cultivation Arts are (or at least can be) a way to expand on the theme imbued within a Diamond Core. For example, Quan Jia is a Diamond Core cultivator and thus she's working on breaking through to Quartz Soul. When she does advance to Quartz Soul, she will have the opportunity to imbue that soul with a resonance related to Slumber (e.g. one or more of the themes listed in her cultivation arts and techniques).
Mechanically: Arts provide bonuses to stats and attributes (and other things) and differ from techniques in that they only provide passive bonuses. Passive bonuses are permanent once they have been unlocked. Not every level of an art will necessarily result in a bonus and some levels in an art are gated by cultivation or insight.
Only current and previously mastered levels of an art or technique will be viewable (mostly so I don't kill myself writing out 15 different descriptions all at once).
Potency: the minimum level and stage of cultivation required to cultivate an art or technique.
Growth: the number of levels a cultivation art or technique has that can be unlocked.
Major Theme: a cultivator must possess one or more of the themes listed in an art or technique in order to be able to cultivate it.
Cultivation Arts are (or at least can be) a way to expand on the theme imbued within a Diamond Core. For example, Quan Jia is a Diamond Core cultivator and thus she's working on breaking through to Quartz Soul. When she does advance to Quartz Soul, she will have the opportunity to imbue that soul with a resonance related to Slumber (e.g. one or more of the themes listed in her cultivation arts and techniques).
[] Thousand Winter's Hibernation
Potency: Diamond Core
Major Theme(s): Slumber, Nature, Resilience
Growth: 4 Slowings
Description:
A Second Age scholar once wandered the desolation wrought to the land by the Calamity of Ice. One evening, as the embers of his campfire faded against relentless cold, his dreaming mind touched upon a single seed of grass beneath his slumbering form as it waited for the passing of Ice and the return of the Sun. From this shock, and the joy of epiphany, he crafted this Art for others to understand some fraction of that endless enduring. The years have stripped much from this once powerful art, but what remains is more than suitable for those beginning their journey toward the Dao.
First Slowing: it is the nature of things to slow, to endure in sleep the things that cannot be surpassed in wakefulness. A cultivator of the First Slowing begins to draw upon the protective mantle of slumber, wrapping themselves in an aura of sleep aspected qi to mute the effects of the waking world.
Mastery of the First Slowing grants +1 dot to Stamina
XP: 0/15
Major Theme(s): Slumber, Nature, Resilience
Growth: 4 Slowings
Description:
A Second Age scholar once wandered the desolation wrought to the land by the Calamity of Ice. One evening, as the embers of his campfire faded against relentless cold, his dreaming mind touched upon a single seed of grass beneath his slumbering form as it waited for the passing of Ice and the return of the Sun. From this shock, and the joy of epiphany, he crafted this Art for others to understand some fraction of that endless enduring. The years have stripped much from this once powerful art, but what remains is more than suitable for those beginning their journey toward the Dao.
First Slowing: it is the nature of things to slow, to endure in sleep the things that cannot be surpassed in wakefulness. A cultivator of the First Slowing begins to draw upon the protective mantle of slumber, wrapping themselves in an aura of sleep aspected qi to mute the effects of the waking world.
Mastery of the First Slowing grants +1 dot to Stamina
XP: 0/15
[] Instincts of the Sleeping Warrior
Potency: Diamond Core
Theme(s): Slumber, Awareness, Martial
Growth: 5 Senses
Description:
The Sailors of Yao wage a constant war with the barbarian tribes of the Eastern Sea. It is a war without battle-lines or rules of engagement set amidst a sea that can change from placid to raging in the blink of an eye. It is all too often a war of long sojourn and frequent privation where beasts leviathan and monstrous beyond any that could ever exist on land claim supremacy.
The Instincts of the Sleeping Warrior were developed by a lowly ship's captain to counteract the constant state of exhaustion suffered by her soldiers. In the years since its creation, the coarse edges of this Art have been smoothed as its widespread, if sporadic adoption amongst soldiers from all seven kingdoms and the provinces has occurred.
First Sense: The waking mind ponders, hesitates, misinterprets, the sleeping mind reacts. A cultivator of the First Sense begins to imbue their sense of hearing with sleep aspected qi, cutting the din of wakefulness with the clarion of slumber.
Mastery of the First Sense grants +1 dot to Awareness.
XP: 0/20
Theme(s): Slumber, Awareness, Martial
Growth: 5 Senses
Description:
The Sailors of Yao wage a constant war with the barbarian tribes of the Eastern Sea. It is a war without battle-lines or rules of engagement set amidst a sea that can change from placid to raging in the blink of an eye. It is all too often a war of long sojourn and frequent privation where beasts leviathan and monstrous beyond any that could ever exist on land claim supremacy.
The Instincts of the Sleeping Warrior were developed by a lowly ship's captain to counteract the constant state of exhaustion suffered by her soldiers. In the years since its creation, the coarse edges of this Art have been smoothed as its widespread, if sporadic adoption amongst soldiers from all seven kingdoms and the provinces has occurred.
First Sense: The waking mind ponders, hesitates, misinterprets, the sleeping mind reacts. A cultivator of the First Sense begins to imbue their sense of hearing with sleep aspected qi, cutting the din of wakefulness with the clarion of slumber.
Mastery of the First Sense grants +1 dot to Awareness.
XP: 0/20
[] Dreamer's Endless Journey
Potency: Diamond Core
Theme(s): Slumber, Dreams, Travel
Growth: 6 Paths
Description:
Those who wander the Dream speak of paths, glittering highways and twisted game-trails alike, portions of consistency within an infinitely mutable whole. While no two cultivators can agree upon where a path lies, or what it leads to, there are a few paths within the Dream where effort and understanding can set the stage for one's journey along it.
This art, created by the Sage of a Thousand Eyes lays out the meditations required to begin the journey upon six such paths.
First Path: the paths of Dream are as fractured mirrors to the roads of the waking world. A cultivator of the First Path takes their first steps along this fractured way and begins to perceive the branchings of if and perchance.
Mastery of the First Path grants a +2 (to a 1d100 base roll) bonus to random event, exploration, and loot rolls
XP: 0/25
Theme(s): Slumber, Dreams, Travel
Growth: 6 Paths
Description:
Those who wander the Dream speak of paths, glittering highways and twisted game-trails alike, portions of consistency within an infinitely mutable whole. While no two cultivators can agree upon where a path lies, or what it leads to, there are a few paths within the Dream where effort and understanding can set the stage for one's journey along it.
This art, created by the Sage of a Thousand Eyes lays out the meditations required to begin the journey upon six such paths.
First Path: the paths of Dream are as fractured mirrors to the roads of the waking world. A cultivator of the First Path takes their first steps along this fractured way and begins to perceive the branchings of if and perchance.
Mastery of the First Path grants a +2 (to a 1d100 base roll) bonus to random event, exploration, and loot rolls
XP: 0/25
A/N
Short chapter this time, next one will be a bit longer and the first view of the sect, I think.
Vote closed
The Welcoming Festival
Though never explicitly codified in imperial texts, nor taught as a matter of fact at the Imperial Sects, there exists a certain level of dismissal that those who cultivate the Lesser Souls must endure when faced with those who have advanced to the Greater Souls.
The breakthrough from Amber to Opal has been likened unto a single step, were that step to surpass a mountain whose peaks are shrouded in the vacuum of Mother Night. Thus it is that those who have delved into the Dao, that have risked bodily health and at times the sanctity of their soul upon the altar of advancement, in general bear some level of disdain for those who have not, or cannot, overcome that barrier.
It is said that to Awaken is to take within oneself the essence of Eternity. What then do those who Ascend beyond the ranks of those merely Awakened imbibe? This humble scholar has no answer, and the answers he has received from those who tread these lofty heights are as incomprehensible and contradictory as the meditations of we who toil within the Lesser Souls must seem to those who remain yet unawakened.
Ruminations on Enlightenment, Gao Mingxia, Second Age, Date Unknown.
Quan Jia stands at the top of a low hill and looks down onto pandemonium. The Sect of Riven Stone has thrown open its doors to celebrate another year of life and prosperity within the province and, more importantly, to welcome a new crop of cultivators into the fold. Sprawling from one end of a massive clearing all the way to the shimmering white walls of the sect itself is the Welcoming Festival. Cultivators in robes of crimson and amber, in robes of living fire and thunderous clouds, wander shoulder to shoulder with mortals clad in rough spun wool and faded linen through the manicured parade grounds. Countless bodies drift from brightly colored pavilion to wooden slatted food cart to locations yet more ephemeral and inviting. It was chaos, a riot of color and sound and smell. It was amazing.
Pops would have never allowed something like this…
A delighted smile slowly crosses her face, and with a step, Quan Jia vanishes down toward the celebration, abandoning propriety and Mei Mei in a single forward step. The first stays lost as she hikes up her robe, increasing speed, and bearing what would be considered a scandalous amount of leg back home. Losing Mei Mei, on the other hand, has ever been a futile attempt, and by the time her sandals touch ground on the second step, she can feel the silent presence of her attendant next to her.
"What should we do first," Quan Jia's words whip past her as she passes under a crimson banner displaying a golden dragon wrapped protectively around a pitch black mountain.
It seems as though Mei Mei tries to answer, but the response is lost as Quan Jia skids to a stumbling halt on wet grass and loose sandals. Barely, she manages to avoid bowling over a trio of laborers, spinning past their choked off shouts and taking in her first full look at the festival. Muttered complaints vanish as her attendant lands next to her, but Quan Jia's attention has already moved well past them.
Jade green eyes flit chaotically from sight to sight, before latching onto a massive multicolored wheel as it spins about on an axis. Where a single petal sticks out into the wheel and clacks against slender metal pegs. "What's that? Let's go try it."
Just as Quan Jia's taking her first sprinting step to get a closer look at the wheel, a hand falls lightly on her shoulder and she stops in place, all forward momentum vanishing, "Aww, Mei Mei, don't be like that."
Her attendant steps up beside her, an amused smile painting the unveiled portion of her face, "perhaps, instead of games of mere chance, My Lady would prefer to try something more… strategic?"
With that she points over toward a long table where a number of boards are laid out, some with the lacquered wooden pieces of xiangqi, some with the white and black stones of go, and some with oddly shaped pieces Quan Jia doesn't recognize at all.
Is that a horse? That one's got to be a tower, right?
[AN]
The next several votes will allow you to select abilities or other rewards. Next chapter will also include brief scenes with the winning option. To provide relevant context, I've spoilered the mechanics on abilities below.
[] Head over toward the spinning wheel. (Unlocks the ability Gambling at 1 dot)
[] Head over toward the table full of games. (Unlocks the ability Strategy at 1 dot)
The sun is setting by the time Quan Jia steps back from her activities, purse noticeably heavier than it was when she started.
[Gained 4 spirit-diamonds]
"That was fun," she remarks, looking back with a happy grin to where a small handful of cultivators wearing the saffron robes of outer sect disciples are sat in silent bemusement. "We should do this again."
"Whatever My Lady wishes," her attendant agrees with a slight smile and that was enough for her to know that it definitely would.
I don't think I've ever seen a situation that Mei Mei can't make happen with just her presence.
A grumbling noise fills the surprisingly quiet bubble space that's wrapped around the two of them and Quan Jia's grin turns a bit sheepish, "There's got to be food around, right Mei Mei? I'm kind of hungry."
"I believe those slat roofed carts we saw at the start were serving some of the more common street foods," she gestures, and with it pointed out, Quan Jia can clearly smell the appetizing mix of spices and meats and vegetables. "Alternatively, there appear to be a number of pavilions set aside for more refined dining, if that is My Lady's preference."
"Those fancy dinners dad always made us attend were really boring," she begins doubtfully, "but maybe they're not so bad here?"
Bandaged eyes shift over to a nearby pavilion, draped in forest green lengths of silk that hang from the sides of the canopy to provide separation from the chaos outside. "If nothing else, I believe that a firm remonstration will serve to ward off even the most ambitious seeker of favors."
Quan Jia nods distractedly, before her attention is completely distracted by a flash of silver and blue, "is that a tail?"
"Quick, Mei Mei," she prepares to sprint off after the vanishing figure, "after them."
This time, the hand settles on her shoulder before she can even take her first step, and Quan Jia pouts to herself at the ever so slightly sarcastic words from her attendant, "Wasn't my lady just concerned with dining?"
"Who cares about food," the grumbling of her stomach puts the lie to that statement, but she continues determinedly, "we could be meeting someone new, someone cool."
"Even so," her attendant murmurs with that particular tone that has Quan Jia settling back from her earlier excitement. "Would it not look much better were we to approach at a reasonable speed?"
Eyes scan the crowd, thick with crimson and saffron robes of sect cultivators as well as the rough leather and linen of mortals, and she sighs, "they're gone. I suppose we can go get dinner now."
"I'm sure that between the two of us," again Mei Mei's voice is ever so slightly sarcastic, "My Lady and I could find this tailed individual."
"I guess…"
[] Eat dinner. (gain 2d10 cultivation XP)
[] Eschew dinner, chase fluffy tail. (Unlocks relationship with ???? at 3)
The Red Moon hangs high in the sky by the time they're done, and Quan Jia hides a rather prodigious yawn with the back of her hand. Before her attendant can steer the two of them toward an inn for the night, she points over at a bench displaying a wide array of, by now, somewhat wilting flowers. "What's that?"
The path between stalls has emptied of people considerably and a balding head framed with a pair of thin silver spectacles perks up. The green robed elder sets aside a colorful piece of parchment and smiles warmly, "This, dear future disciple is a simple test of the principles of botany. And though my esteemed partner has decided that there are more interesting delights to be had rather than tending a stall at the edges of the festival, the bench next to me is a similar test of metallurgy."
"Ooo, pretty," Quan Jia lists slightly to one side with sleepiness as she admires the flecks of qi as they hop and spark from a particularly vivid crimson lotus. "It's not too late to try the test is it?"
"For the daughter of Count Quan, I, Silver Plow, Zhang Shanyuan would happily remain until sunrise." The elder rubs at his bald head and nods respectfully.
It always comes back to pops, even when he's a thousand miles away…
For a moment, her smile slips somewhat and Quan Jia considers leaving, finding someplace where it'd just be her and Mei Mei. But the moment passes as her hand reaches out to trail along the petals of a chrysanthemum blue enough to put the sky to shame.
"Mom liked flowers didn't she," she asks over her shoulder, already knowing the answer. In the background Elder Plowshares steps respectfully back out of the conversation.
Quan Jia turns around and Mei Mei wraps the two of them in a field of static as she nods, "Lady Ji Meixiu was in every way equal to her daoist name the Thorned Rose, and yes, she adored flowers."
"Pops learned how to craft plants in order to court her, you know," Quan Jia grins, the story of her mom's courtship was more than a bit famous back home, and more than a bit adorable.
"It was quite the scandal too: that the heiress to the Duchy of Woven Mists would elope halfway across the Empire with the third son of Marquis Quan Jinhai. It was perhaps an even greater scandal that they chose to assist in the colonization of the Province of Shattered Peaks."
"That's where you're from too isn't it?" Another question she already knew the answer to, but sometimes it was nice to hear anyways.
Plus, Mei Mei doesn't like to talk about herself unless prodded like this…
"It is," her attendant nods, and despite the bandage covering her eyes, Mei Mei clearly conveys that she knows why the question was asked. Still, her attendant answers, "I was a handmaid for Lady Ji and the primary go-between when they were courting. The night they decided to elope, Lady Ji came and asked whether I would be willing to leave everything behind and join them. For her, I could do no less than accept."
There's always this faint quaver of emotion when Mei Mei talks about her mom, something Quan Jia has never quite understood, and never quite decided whether she likes it or not. So with a slight grin, she changes the subject, "and now you're here with me… at least you don't have to worry about being a go-between for me. Boys are just so boring."
"Perhaps in a few years, that opinion will change," is the bland reply, but the heaviness around her attendant has faded into the more normal faintly sarcastic amusement, so she considers that a win.
That seemed unlikely, But Quan Jia shrugs anyways, conceding the point. "We should probably take one of these tests so that Elder Plowshares can go and do whatever it is he normally does…"
"Yes," Mei Mei agrees and then continues with an intentionally annoying kind of pointedness, "one should try one's best to inconvenience others as little as possible, it is a matter of courtesy."
"That's why I suggested it," Quan Jia grins and then moves in for the win, "and I really don't think wasting the poor elder's time by lecturing me is courtesy."
The flat look directed at her is proof enough of her victory, and Quan Jia steps forward as the field of static drops.
[] take the botany test. ((Unlocks the ability Harvesting at 1 dot)
[] take the metallurgy test (Unlocks the ability Prospecting at 1 dot)
[Unlocking either of these skills will allow Quan Jia the opportunity to gather cultivation and crafting resources equivalent to her cultivation level]
[AN]
I don't think there's any synergy between these options so I don't think it's necessary to vote by plan, but if that's how folks prefer to vote I'll edit this to reflect that.
The breakthrough from Amber to Opal has been likened unto a single step, were that step to surpass a mountain whose peaks are shrouded in the vacuum of Mother Night. Thus it is that those who have delved into the Dao, that have risked bodily health and at times the sanctity of their soul upon the altar of advancement, in general bear some level of disdain for those who have not, or cannot, overcome that barrier.
It is said that to Awaken is to take within oneself the essence of Eternity. What then do those who Ascend beyond the ranks of those merely Awakened imbibe? This humble scholar has no answer, and the answers he has received from those who tread these lofty heights are as incomprehensible and contradictory as the meditations of we who toil within the Lesser Souls must seem to those who remain yet unawakened.
Ruminations on Enlightenment, Gao Mingxia, Second Age, Date Unknown.
Quan Jia stands at the top of a low hill and looks down onto pandemonium. The Sect of Riven Stone has thrown open its doors to celebrate another year of life and prosperity within the province and, more importantly, to welcome a new crop of cultivators into the fold. Sprawling from one end of a massive clearing all the way to the shimmering white walls of the sect itself is the Welcoming Festival. Cultivators in robes of crimson and amber, in robes of living fire and thunderous clouds, wander shoulder to shoulder with mortals clad in rough spun wool and faded linen through the manicured parade grounds. Countless bodies drift from brightly colored pavilion to wooden slatted food cart to locations yet more ephemeral and inviting. It was chaos, a riot of color and sound and smell. It was amazing.
Pops would have never allowed something like this…
A delighted smile slowly crosses her face, and with a step, Quan Jia vanishes down toward the celebration, abandoning propriety and Mei Mei in a single forward step. The first stays lost as she hikes up her robe, increasing speed, and bearing what would be considered a scandalous amount of leg back home. Losing Mei Mei, on the other hand, has ever been a futile attempt, and by the time her sandals touch ground on the second step, she can feel the silent presence of her attendant next to her.
"What should we do first," Quan Jia's words whip past her as she passes under a crimson banner displaying a golden dragon wrapped protectively around a pitch black mountain.
It seems as though Mei Mei tries to answer, but the response is lost as Quan Jia skids to a stumbling halt on wet grass and loose sandals. Barely, she manages to avoid bowling over a trio of laborers, spinning past their choked off shouts and taking in her first full look at the festival. Muttered complaints vanish as her attendant lands next to her, but Quan Jia's attention has already moved well past them.
Jade green eyes flit chaotically from sight to sight, before latching onto a massive multicolored wheel as it spins about on an axis. Where a single petal sticks out into the wheel and clacks against slender metal pegs. "What's that? Let's go try it."
Just as Quan Jia's taking her first sprinting step to get a closer look at the wheel, a hand falls lightly on her shoulder and she stops in place, all forward momentum vanishing, "Aww, Mei Mei, don't be like that."
Her attendant steps up beside her, an amused smile painting the unveiled portion of her face, "perhaps, instead of games of mere chance, My Lady would prefer to try something more… strategic?"
With that she points over toward a long table where a number of boards are laid out, some with the lacquered wooden pieces of xiangqi, some with the white and black stones of go, and some with oddly shaped pieces Quan Jia doesn't recognize at all.
Is that a horse? That one's got to be a tower, right?
[AN]
The next several votes will allow you to select abilities or other rewards. Next chapter will also include brief scenes with the winning option. To provide relevant context, I've spoilered the mechanics on abilities below.
Abilities reflect the competence of a cultivator as they exceed mortal mastery of a task or craft. Specific abilities will be unlocked as appropriate, but some examples may be: martial arts, stealth, shaping, etc. They advance as a function of practice or use of that particular ability. Multiple abilities may (rarely) be applied to static and opposed checks.
Those with proficiency in a particular ability will automatically succeed against those without it (or an applicable substitute)
Ability Transformation
Abilities may transform into more powerful and thematic versions of themselves as a cultivator advances in cultivation level and the ability itself advances in potency.
Those with proficiency in a particular ability will automatically succeed against those without it (or an applicable substitute)
Ability Transformation
Abilities may transform into more powerful and thematic versions of themselves as a cultivator advances in cultivation level and the ability itself advances in potency.
[] Head over toward the spinning wheel. (Unlocks the ability Gambling at 1 dot)
[] Head over toward the table full of games. (Unlocks the ability Strategy at 1 dot)
The sun is setting by the time Quan Jia steps back from her activities, purse noticeably heavier than it was when she started.
[Gained 4 spirit-diamonds]
"That was fun," she remarks, looking back with a happy grin to where a small handful of cultivators wearing the saffron robes of outer sect disciples are sat in silent bemusement. "We should do this again."
"Whatever My Lady wishes," her attendant agrees with a slight smile and that was enough for her to know that it definitely would.
I don't think I've ever seen a situation that Mei Mei can't make happen with just her presence.
A grumbling noise fills the surprisingly quiet bubble space that's wrapped around the two of them and Quan Jia's grin turns a bit sheepish, "There's got to be food around, right Mei Mei? I'm kind of hungry."
"I believe those slat roofed carts we saw at the start were serving some of the more common street foods," she gestures, and with it pointed out, Quan Jia can clearly smell the appetizing mix of spices and meats and vegetables. "Alternatively, there appear to be a number of pavilions set aside for more refined dining, if that is My Lady's preference."
"Those fancy dinners dad always made us attend were really boring," she begins doubtfully, "but maybe they're not so bad here?"
Bandaged eyes shift over to a nearby pavilion, draped in forest green lengths of silk that hang from the sides of the canopy to provide separation from the chaos outside. "If nothing else, I believe that a firm remonstration will serve to ward off even the most ambitious seeker of favors."
Quan Jia nods distractedly, before her attention is completely distracted by a flash of silver and blue, "is that a tail?"
"Quick, Mei Mei," she prepares to sprint off after the vanishing figure, "after them."
This time, the hand settles on her shoulder before she can even take her first step, and Quan Jia pouts to herself at the ever so slightly sarcastic words from her attendant, "Wasn't my lady just concerned with dining?"
"Who cares about food," the grumbling of her stomach puts the lie to that statement, but she continues determinedly, "we could be meeting someone new, someone cool."
"Even so," her attendant murmurs with that particular tone that has Quan Jia settling back from her earlier excitement. "Would it not look much better were we to approach at a reasonable speed?"
Eyes scan the crowd, thick with crimson and saffron robes of sect cultivators as well as the rough leather and linen of mortals, and she sighs, "they're gone. I suppose we can go get dinner now."
"I'm sure that between the two of us," again Mei Mei's voice is ever so slightly sarcastic, "My Lady and I could find this tailed individual."
"I guess…"
[] Eat dinner. (gain 2d10 cultivation XP)
[] Eschew dinner, chase fluffy tail. (Unlocks relationship with ???? at 3)
The Red Moon hangs high in the sky by the time they're done, and Quan Jia hides a rather prodigious yawn with the back of her hand. Before her attendant can steer the two of them toward an inn for the night, she points over at a bench displaying a wide array of, by now, somewhat wilting flowers. "What's that?"
The path between stalls has emptied of people considerably and a balding head framed with a pair of thin silver spectacles perks up. The green robed elder sets aside a colorful piece of parchment and smiles warmly, "This, dear future disciple is a simple test of the principles of botany. And though my esteemed partner has decided that there are more interesting delights to be had rather than tending a stall at the edges of the festival, the bench next to me is a similar test of metallurgy."
"Ooo, pretty," Quan Jia lists slightly to one side with sleepiness as she admires the flecks of qi as they hop and spark from a particularly vivid crimson lotus. "It's not too late to try the test is it?"
"For the daughter of Count Quan, I, Silver Plow, Zhang Shanyuan would happily remain until sunrise." The elder rubs at his bald head and nods respectfully.
It always comes back to pops, even when he's a thousand miles away…
For a moment, her smile slips somewhat and Quan Jia considers leaving, finding someplace where it'd just be her and Mei Mei. But the moment passes as her hand reaches out to trail along the petals of a chrysanthemum blue enough to put the sky to shame.
"Mom liked flowers didn't she," she asks over her shoulder, already knowing the answer. In the background Elder Plowshares steps respectfully back out of the conversation.
Quan Jia turns around and Mei Mei wraps the two of them in a field of static as she nods, "Lady Ji Meixiu was in every way equal to her daoist name the Thorned Rose, and yes, she adored flowers."
"Pops learned how to craft plants in order to court her, you know," Quan Jia grins, the story of her mom's courtship was more than a bit famous back home, and more than a bit adorable.
"It was quite the scandal too: that the heiress to the Duchy of Woven Mists would elope halfway across the Empire with the third son of Marquis Quan Jinhai. It was perhaps an even greater scandal that they chose to assist in the colonization of the Province of Shattered Peaks."
"That's where you're from too isn't it?" Another question she already knew the answer to, but sometimes it was nice to hear anyways.
Plus, Mei Mei doesn't like to talk about herself unless prodded like this…
"It is," her attendant nods, and despite the bandage covering her eyes, Mei Mei clearly conveys that she knows why the question was asked. Still, her attendant answers, "I was a handmaid for Lady Ji and the primary go-between when they were courting. The night they decided to elope, Lady Ji came and asked whether I would be willing to leave everything behind and join them. For her, I could do no less than accept."
There's always this faint quaver of emotion when Mei Mei talks about her mom, something Quan Jia has never quite understood, and never quite decided whether she likes it or not. So with a slight grin, she changes the subject, "and now you're here with me… at least you don't have to worry about being a go-between for me. Boys are just so boring."
"Perhaps in a few years, that opinion will change," is the bland reply, but the heaviness around her attendant has faded into the more normal faintly sarcastic amusement, so she considers that a win.
That seemed unlikely, But Quan Jia shrugs anyways, conceding the point. "We should probably take one of these tests so that Elder Plowshares can go and do whatever it is he normally does…"
"Yes," Mei Mei agrees and then continues with an intentionally annoying kind of pointedness, "one should try one's best to inconvenience others as little as possible, it is a matter of courtesy."
"That's why I suggested it," Quan Jia grins and then moves in for the win, "and I really don't think wasting the poor elder's time by lecturing me is courtesy."
The flat look directed at her is proof enough of her victory, and Quan Jia steps forward as the field of static drops.
[] take the botany test. ((Unlocks the ability Harvesting at 1 dot)
[] take the metallurgy test (Unlocks the ability Prospecting at 1 dot)
[Unlocking either of these skills will allow Quan Jia the opportunity to gather cultivation and crafting resources equivalent to her cultivation level]
[AN]
I don't think there's any synergy between these options so I don't think it's necessary to vote by plan, but if that's how folks prefer to vote I'll edit this to reflect that.
Vote closed
Orphans and Fluffy Tails
Harbingers of the end of an Age, the Calamities embody a potency of elemental qi far beyond what even the greatest heroes of the Empire can hope to match. Twice has a Calamity visited the Empire: the first, on the wings of the Calamity of Ice, bitter and unrelenting cold enveloped the realm in thick sheets of ice for nigh on a thousand years. Countless hundreds of millions of mortals died to cold and privation and countless millions of cultivators died in the wars that followed. The edifices of civilization began to crumble as the cold sapped qi from the earth itself and rendered fortunes of valuable estates little more than dust.
If the aftermath of the Calamity of Ice could be likened to a slow death, staved off only by the heroic sacrifice of Emperor, Spring's Purity, Li Weimin. He whose self sacrifice brought renewed life to the Empire, then the Calamity of Fire was an altogether different kind of event, and the start of imperial sanction and widespread animosity for the spirit-blooded.
Endings of Permafrost and Pyre, Eloquent Cui Qingzhao, 3rd Age, 35th year of the 2nd Interregnum.
Xiao Lien settles back on her heels and pulls off the paper wrapping protecting a wondrously greasy meat bun. Steam and the scent of spices waft into the air, and it's with something almost like regret mixed with voracious hunger that she sinks teeth, sharper than they had been a month ago, into the hot pastry.
The explosion of flavor and grease in her mouth as she tears greedily, unrestrainedly, into the meat bun elicits an almost pathetically happy moan from the otherwise diffident girl.
Feels like I haven't eaten in weeks. Definitely been weeks since I've seen a proper meal, or at least something cooked… Heavens it feels like it's been an eternity since life made any sense.
With hunger no longer gnawing a hole in her stomach, her mind flits back, as it always seem to do, to the series of tragedies that had led her here. The first, a flash of gold and a moment of perfect understanding. Her mom's tearful face and the slamming of a door. Gross men wearing guardsmen's uniforms and a second flash of golden radiance. Finally, an apathetic magistrate and a piece of paper.
Tossed out in to the wild… told me that I should go live with my father, like I'm supposed to know whoever the fuck that is.
Paper drenched in oil practically sizzles as drops of sunlight fall from her fingers and Xiao Lien can feel the outline of a single tail, one she knows to be silver with a blue tip, shimmering into reality. More qi and tufted, blue striped, silver ears would appear. That amount of qi would also trigger any of those damned spirit wards, and shortly thereafter guards, although this close to the sect, there'd likely be cultivators as well. With a frown, and a concerted effort of will, she draws back on the emotion and with it the flickering qi.
Can't afford to get spotted so soon. Gotta stay hidden.
That had been a lesson she'd learned quickly. As long as she kept her qi under control, she could move about unnoticed, mostly. It was just so hard sometimes, to have the power to break those guards that had tried to… but not be able to use it.
Xiao Lien's stomach grumbles, interrupting that unhelpful train of thought and letting her know that one pork bun was not going to be nearly enough. Not after weeks spent hiding amongst baggage, eating the rats and other small creatures foolish enough to stow away in the same area she had.
Visions of dozens of those meat buns, or even more extravagantly, a few slices of that massive roast boar dance through her head as she ponders the risk of returning to the festival against the reward of a full belly. As hunger is slowly winning the war against caution, some distant, timeless, part of herself causes her to freeze instantly and completely motionlessly.
"They had to have gone this way Mei Mei," a girl's voice calls out from below and despite the danger Xiao Lien leans minutely forward to stare down through thick leaf cover onto a head of golden blonde hair, "but where?"
"Who can say, my lady. Perhaps they've left," The sensation of imminent death ring through her as she peers down and like iron filings to a lodestone, her eyes fix on the second figure, taller and far more dangerous. Instincts she'd learned to heed over these last few months were screaming at her to flee, flee and never stop running. Screaming at her to still even further, to not move and hope the predator below wasn't hungry.
"Or perhaps they're just hiding," bandaged eyes stare directly up at where she'd hidden, and her heart stops.
Shit, she knows where I am.
"If you know where they are Mei Mei, you should tell me," the small part of Xiao Lien not frozen in terror recognizes in that tone the dozens of spoiled merchant's daughters as they demanded things from their parents while perusing her mother's stall. "Being mysterious like that is very not-cool."
Shit, this is getting worse and worse.
"My Lady's faith in me is truly gratifying, however there are tasks that are beyond even this humble attendant's capabilities," despite those words, bandaged eyes haven't moved even the slightest though from where she's hidden, and Xiao Lien can feel herself being weighed and measured. Her potential as a threat cataloged and then dismissed as irrelevant.
"It's like you want to drop to third place," the girl mutters, "at least give me a hint Mei Mei, a good one."
"As you wish," those eyes finally shift away and the nearly overwhelming feeling of terror fades with them, "if you were a cat and you wanted to hide, where would you start?"
That's too good of a hint…
"Hmm, if I were a cat I would hide…," the girl's head begins to tilt upward and her hopes of escaping die, "In a tree."
Jade green eyes lock with hers and a face that's almost painfully beautiful smiles. "Hi, I'm Quan Jia, who are you?" Xiao Lien's heart thumps painfully in her chest and it feels like she's falling.
"Good catch, Mei Mei," Strong arms wrap around her and that terrifying bandaged face stares emotionlessly down at her.
Too much, it's all too much…
Quan Jia frowns as Mei Mei leans the sleeping girl against the tree she'd hidden in. "Was it something I said?"
Her attendant tilts the girl's head first one way and then the next, before shaking her head, "no my lady, I believe it to be more a matter of malnourishment and perhaps a bit too much excitement."
"You scared her didn't you, Mei Mei?" Quan Jia directs a fully disapproving scowl at her attendant.
Mei Mei sighs regretfully and bows her head, "your safety is my only priority, my lady, but you're right... I do believe I scared her unnecessarily."
"You're only supposed to scare off the boring people, Mei Mei," Quan Jia sighs, now she'd have to wait until the girl woke up.
Well that might not be the worst solution after all.
Flopping down onto the soft grass, she looks up at her attendant, "as punishment, you should go and get us some food, and try to be less scary when you come back."
"I don't think it's wise to leave you alone with a stranger, my lady," her attendant responds blandly and makes no effort to move.
"Come on, Mei Mei, she doesn't look like she could hurt a fly." There was a sense of hunger that seemed to radiate from the girl's unconscious frame, but that was probably just the malnourishment.
"I still don't think it's wise, my lady," is the rather dismissive response.
"But think how cool we'd look if we had food waiting when she woke up," food was a really good way to make friends, especially with starving people.
"I would prefer not to, my lady."
"Please?"
"No."
"Pretty please?"
"Still no."
So very stubborn…
Quan Jia sighs internally, hating what she's about to do to Mei Mei, hating every bit of the irrelevant things that separate the two of them. None of the churning in her stomach shows on her face though, and none of it stops her from commanding, "Go Liu Mei, it was not a suggestion."
The tiny lines of amusement that almost constantly adorn Mei Mei's face vanish into a mask of perfect blankness and with a salute, hand over heart, she replies, "As you command Lady Quan Jia."
Sorry Mei Mei…
Quan Jia flinches slightly as her attendant vanishes into the evening. She'd have to make up for that, sooner or later, probably sooner.
That was a problem for future her though. The problem for present her was the sleeping girl propped against the tree trunk across from her. Unfortunately it didn't seem like the kind of problem she could solve, at least not with her level of cultivation. Maybe she could slap her and wake her up that way, but she rather doubted that you made friends by slapping them, and so, with Mei Mei gone getting food, and the focus of her search sleeping, Quan Jia frowns, feeling suddenly rather bored.
Maybe just a quick nap…
Looking over at where the girl was propped up against the tree she'd fallen from, she hums thoughtfully.
Surely she wouldn't mind… plus making sure friends were comfy was really important, wasn't it?
The smell of food and the unfamiliar weight and warmth of something leaning against her slowly draws Xiao Lien back from unconsciousness. Her first instinct as she looks down and sees a mop of blonde hair is to jerk away from the strange noble girl who had decided to use her shoulder as a pillow. Her second instinct is to freeze utterly still as she sees the bandaged bodyguard sitting across a blanket from her, staring at her with an intensity that was almost painful.
Fortunately, the earlier sense of being a particularly unlucky mouse caught in front of a malicious cat had vanished and she was able to form words to speak, "Ahh, miss, umm…"
Kind of…
For a long moment bandage covered eyes stare in silence before, "I am Chief Counselor, Secretary, and Head Bodyguard for Lady Quan Jia. If you must, you may address me as the Serrated Flash, Liu Mei."
Right, like that's not at all terrifying…
"Miss, umm, Miss Serr-," she swallows, "Miss Liu Mei, what's, why am I..."
"My lady has taken an interest in you, and though you doubtless lack the sophistication to realize it, has placed considerable trust in you by allowing you to serve as her pillow." Liu Mei's face doesn't shift at all as she speaks, "it would be to your benefit to not disrupt that."
Sure, beautiful, probably spoiled, noble girl decides to use you as a pillow while her bodyguard or whatever glares whenever you so much as twitch… in what world did any of that make sense.
I miss living in the forest… at least the things there would only try and eat you…
Looking down at plates filled with seared meats and fragrant vegetables, Xiao Lien sighs as her stomach rumbles. Unless this was a remarkably peculiar form of torture, though given her current state it would also be rather effective, food would have to wait until the sleepy girl woke up.
With nothing to do except try not to drool over the smells emanating from covered bowls, and hoping, probably vainly that time would pass quicker with conversation, she draws on a thread of liquid sunlight for courage and asks, "not to be rude, but I don't, I mean I haven't, Jinxia's kinda far away and…"
"Shameful," the word rings with a such a degree of condemnation that Xiao Lien barely manages to restrain a flinch, "that one could live under Lord Quan Jin's protection, and not know to whom they should pay their thanks."
Well that didn't work… I think the silence and food torture was probably better than this...
"Eighth best," the breathy words brush along her ear and this time Xiao Lien can't avoid the flinch that sends the girl tumbling off her shoulder.
Thankfully, before the bodyguard can murder her, the noble girl speaks, "Aww, she's awake. Why didn't you wake me up Mei Mei? It's rude to nap on people without asking them first, you know…"
"Hiding the evidence of a crime is hardly the same as not committing that crime in the first place isn't it, my lady?" All of that terrifying intensity fades like mist before the sun, leaving behind nothing but faint amusement and what sounded almost like sarcasm.
"Hmph," apparently deciding that she couldn't really argue with that, the blonde turns toward her and smiles, "Hi, I'm Quan Jia, who are you? Where are you from? Are you joining the sect too? Do you have a tail? Can I see it? Ooo we have snacks too. Make sure to eat, Mei Mei said you'd probably be hungry."
A handful of words and Xiao Lien no longer thinks she's going to die this evening, rather she finds herself caught somewhere between amused and overwhelmed. And despite the still glowering bodyguard and the odd thumping of her heart, she finds herself relaxing. "My name is Xiao Lien, I was born and raised in Jinxia. I wasn't accepted into the Sect. and yes, I do have a tail, though it only appears when I channel qi."
Quan Jia opens her mouth to speak, but is interrupted by her no longer as terrifying bodyguard, "If you wish it, my lady, I will serve dinner while the two of you become acquainted."
"Uh uh," the noble girl's smile shifts to something mischievous as she shakes her head, "pops isn't here, so you're going to join us. Mei Mei needs to eat too."
Liu Mei's face twitches in what Xiao Lien could only guess was a genuine smile, and gracefully the bodyguard moves over to where she and Quan Jia were sitting. A trio of plates float in the air beside her and with an obviously exaggerated bow, she sets a them down on the blanket and then sits. "As my lady wishes."
The smell of perfectly seared meat coming from that close after weeks of eating rodents and things scavenged from the garbage finally overcomes what remains of her caution. Abandoning manners, Xiao Lien snatches at the nearest plate and without hesitation raises the plate to her mouth and begins to practically shovel the food inside.
"Hmm, I don't think I can compete with that, but let's give it a try anyway." Quan Jia lifts her plate in mimicry a heartbeat before her bodyguard moves to try and stop her. For several chaotic moments the sound of struggling mixed with laughter fills the clearing. Meanwhile, with a slight flush on her face, Xiao Lien lowers her plate and attempts to eat at a more human pace.
"You win this time Mei Mei," Xiao Lien looks over to where a pouting Quan Jia has abandoned her earlier attempt and is eating with a deliberate kind of slowness that must have been a nobility thing
Even before everything, it had always been a race to get enough to eat before it was gone.
"I don't get it though," Quan Jia's voice breaks a silence that had previously been filled by the clinking of chopsticks as they scraped against porcelain, "that old lady would have severed anyone with core like mine, so that must mean yours is pretty pure, right?"
Xiao Lien leans back, finally satiated, and nods in response to the question, "I think so, yes."
"Imperial policy is to sever any spirit-blooded cultivators whose Diamond Core is less than completely pure, and there's no chance the sect would have missed out on a chance to make a disciple out of someone with a luminous or radiant Core." There was something chilling in hearing about the matter-of-fact way the Empire treated the spirit-blooded. The way it treated people like her.
"That's stupid," Quan Jia proclaims, pointing a finger directly at her bodyguard, "I refuse to allow my new friend to get thrown away like that. Mei Mei, we have to do something."
"I don't think friendship works like tha-," that finger shifts over toward her, and Xiao Lien cuts off mid word.
"You mean you don't want to be friends with me?" Her voice quavers in a way that Xiao Lien is absolutely sure is fake, but still hits too close to home.
How long has it been since I've had fun like this, since I've laughed…
"Of course we're friends Lady-," once again she's cut off mid word.
"Nope, that's not it, friends don't use titles, unless they're really stubborn like Mei Mei." A grin is directed at the bodyguard who responds in kind with the faintest twitch of her lips.
"Then of course I would like to be friends with you Quan Jia," is really the only response she can, and surprisingly, wants to give.
The smile Xiao lien gets in response to that is unsurprisingly similar to that of a ray of sunlight on a cloudy day. "With that settled, there's two things left we must address…"
"First," that warm smile shifts to a grin and Xiao Lien has a brief moment to wonder whether she's made a massive mistake, "friends show each other cool things like say… tails or ears or whatever… right?"
It's an odd thing, for someone to want to see the features that marked her as something other, something worthy of expelling into the wilderness to die alone, but there's no guile in Quan Jia. Innocence and ignorance perhaps, but not anything worse. So, it's without any sense of fear or regret that Xiao Lien channels the warmth of the dawn through her veins and exults in the freedom as her spirit features spill from restraints she no longer noticed.
"Soo fluffy," Quan Jia's fingers twitch, but remarkably, given what little she knew of her new friend, the other girl remains in place.
"Perhaps, my lady, if you asked…" Liu Mei trails off with a shake of her master's head.
"No some things must be earned not given," Quan Jia responds with a nobility that would have probably been more impressive if she weren't discussing her desire to touch Xiao Lien's tail.
"Second," her friend begins:
[] "Do you want to come join the sect with me?" [Uses monthly letter to father option. +1 relationship to Xiao Lien)
[] "you should come with us, we'll figure the other stuff out later." [Does not use monthly letter to father option. No relationship change with Xiao Lien)
[AN
I know I said that this would wrap up the character creation, but this chapter ran on a bit longer than I had anticipated. So next chapter will mark the end of character creation.
Also, feel free to yell at me if I haven't updated the character sheet by tomorrow morning.
As an aside, I always find the first couple chapters the most difficult from a characterization standpoint. I've got notes and whatnot, but the characters don't really have a voice until I've actually started writing them]
If the aftermath of the Calamity of Ice could be likened to a slow death, staved off only by the heroic sacrifice of Emperor, Spring's Purity, Li Weimin. He whose self sacrifice brought renewed life to the Empire, then the Calamity of Fire was an altogether different kind of event, and the start of imperial sanction and widespread animosity for the spirit-blooded.
Endings of Permafrost and Pyre, Eloquent Cui Qingzhao, 3rd Age, 35th year of the 2nd Interregnum.
Xiao Lien settles back on her heels and pulls off the paper wrapping protecting a wondrously greasy meat bun. Steam and the scent of spices waft into the air, and it's with something almost like regret mixed with voracious hunger that she sinks teeth, sharper than they had been a month ago, into the hot pastry.
The explosion of flavor and grease in her mouth as she tears greedily, unrestrainedly, into the meat bun elicits an almost pathetically happy moan from the otherwise diffident girl.
Feels like I haven't eaten in weeks. Definitely been weeks since I've seen a proper meal, or at least something cooked… Heavens it feels like it's been an eternity since life made any sense.
With hunger no longer gnawing a hole in her stomach, her mind flits back, as it always seem to do, to the series of tragedies that had led her here. The first, a flash of gold and a moment of perfect understanding. Her mom's tearful face and the slamming of a door. Gross men wearing guardsmen's uniforms and a second flash of golden radiance. Finally, an apathetic magistrate and a piece of paper.
Tossed out in to the wild… told me that I should go live with my father, like I'm supposed to know whoever the fuck that is.
Paper drenched in oil practically sizzles as drops of sunlight fall from her fingers and Xiao Lien can feel the outline of a single tail, one she knows to be silver with a blue tip, shimmering into reality. More qi and tufted, blue striped, silver ears would appear. That amount of qi would also trigger any of those damned spirit wards, and shortly thereafter guards, although this close to the sect, there'd likely be cultivators as well. With a frown, and a concerted effort of will, she draws back on the emotion and with it the flickering qi.
Can't afford to get spotted so soon. Gotta stay hidden.
That had been a lesson she'd learned quickly. As long as she kept her qi under control, she could move about unnoticed, mostly. It was just so hard sometimes, to have the power to break those guards that had tried to… but not be able to use it.
Xiao Lien's stomach grumbles, interrupting that unhelpful train of thought and letting her know that one pork bun was not going to be nearly enough. Not after weeks spent hiding amongst baggage, eating the rats and other small creatures foolish enough to stow away in the same area she had.
Visions of dozens of those meat buns, or even more extravagantly, a few slices of that massive roast boar dance through her head as she ponders the risk of returning to the festival against the reward of a full belly. As hunger is slowly winning the war against caution, some distant, timeless, part of herself causes her to freeze instantly and completely motionlessly.
"They had to have gone this way Mei Mei," a girl's voice calls out from below and despite the danger Xiao Lien leans minutely forward to stare down through thick leaf cover onto a head of golden blonde hair, "but where?"
"Who can say, my lady. Perhaps they've left," The sensation of imminent death ring through her as she peers down and like iron filings to a lodestone, her eyes fix on the second figure, taller and far more dangerous. Instincts she'd learned to heed over these last few months were screaming at her to flee, flee and never stop running. Screaming at her to still even further, to not move and hope the predator below wasn't hungry.
"Or perhaps they're just hiding," bandaged eyes stare directly up at where she'd hidden, and her heart stops.
Shit, she knows where I am.
"If you know where they are Mei Mei, you should tell me," the small part of Xiao Lien not frozen in terror recognizes in that tone the dozens of spoiled merchant's daughters as they demanded things from their parents while perusing her mother's stall. "Being mysterious like that is very not-cool."
Shit, this is getting worse and worse.
"My Lady's faith in me is truly gratifying, however there are tasks that are beyond even this humble attendant's capabilities," despite those words, bandaged eyes haven't moved even the slightest though from where she's hidden, and Xiao Lien can feel herself being weighed and measured. Her potential as a threat cataloged and then dismissed as irrelevant.
"It's like you want to drop to third place," the girl mutters, "at least give me a hint Mei Mei, a good one."
"As you wish," those eyes finally shift away and the nearly overwhelming feeling of terror fades with them, "if you were a cat and you wanted to hide, where would you start?"
That's too good of a hint…
"Hmm, if I were a cat I would hide…," the girl's head begins to tilt upward and her hopes of escaping die, "In a tree."
Jade green eyes lock with hers and a face that's almost painfully beautiful smiles. "Hi, I'm Quan Jia, who are you?" Xiao Lien's heart thumps painfully in her chest and it feels like she's falling.
"Good catch, Mei Mei," Strong arms wrap around her and that terrifying bandaged face stares emotionlessly down at her.
Too much, it's all too much…
Quan Jia frowns as Mei Mei leans the sleeping girl against the tree she'd hidden in. "Was it something I said?"
Her attendant tilts the girl's head first one way and then the next, before shaking her head, "no my lady, I believe it to be more a matter of malnourishment and perhaps a bit too much excitement."
"You scared her didn't you, Mei Mei?" Quan Jia directs a fully disapproving scowl at her attendant.
Mei Mei sighs regretfully and bows her head, "your safety is my only priority, my lady, but you're right... I do believe I scared her unnecessarily."
"You're only supposed to scare off the boring people, Mei Mei," Quan Jia sighs, now she'd have to wait until the girl woke up.
Well that might not be the worst solution after all.
Flopping down onto the soft grass, she looks up at her attendant, "as punishment, you should go and get us some food, and try to be less scary when you come back."
"I don't think it's wise to leave you alone with a stranger, my lady," her attendant responds blandly and makes no effort to move.
"Come on, Mei Mei, she doesn't look like she could hurt a fly." There was a sense of hunger that seemed to radiate from the girl's unconscious frame, but that was probably just the malnourishment.
"I still don't think it's wise, my lady," is the rather dismissive response.
"But think how cool we'd look if we had food waiting when she woke up," food was a really good way to make friends, especially with starving people.
"I would prefer not to, my lady."
"Please?"
"No."
"Pretty please?"
"Still no."
So very stubborn…
Quan Jia sighs internally, hating what she's about to do to Mei Mei, hating every bit of the irrelevant things that separate the two of them. None of the churning in her stomach shows on her face though, and none of it stops her from commanding, "Go Liu Mei, it was not a suggestion."
The tiny lines of amusement that almost constantly adorn Mei Mei's face vanish into a mask of perfect blankness and with a salute, hand over heart, she replies, "As you command Lady Quan Jia."
Sorry Mei Mei…
Quan Jia flinches slightly as her attendant vanishes into the evening. She'd have to make up for that, sooner or later, probably sooner.
That was a problem for future her though. The problem for present her was the sleeping girl propped against the tree trunk across from her. Unfortunately it didn't seem like the kind of problem she could solve, at least not with her level of cultivation. Maybe she could slap her and wake her up that way, but she rather doubted that you made friends by slapping them, and so, with Mei Mei gone getting food, and the focus of her search sleeping, Quan Jia frowns, feeling suddenly rather bored.
Maybe just a quick nap…
Looking over at where the girl was propped up against the tree she'd fallen from, she hums thoughtfully.
Surely she wouldn't mind… plus making sure friends were comfy was really important, wasn't it?
The smell of food and the unfamiliar weight and warmth of something leaning against her slowly draws Xiao Lien back from unconsciousness. Her first instinct as she looks down and sees a mop of blonde hair is to jerk away from the strange noble girl who had decided to use her shoulder as a pillow. Her second instinct is to freeze utterly still as she sees the bandaged bodyguard sitting across a blanket from her, staring at her with an intensity that was almost painful.
Fortunately, the earlier sense of being a particularly unlucky mouse caught in front of a malicious cat had vanished and she was able to form words to speak, "Ahh, miss, umm…"
Kind of…
For a long moment bandage covered eyes stare in silence before, "I am Chief Counselor, Secretary, and Head Bodyguard for Lady Quan Jia. If you must, you may address me as the Serrated Flash, Liu Mei."
Right, like that's not at all terrifying…
"Miss, umm, Miss Serr-," she swallows, "Miss Liu Mei, what's, why am I..."
"My lady has taken an interest in you, and though you doubtless lack the sophistication to realize it, has placed considerable trust in you by allowing you to serve as her pillow." Liu Mei's face doesn't shift at all as she speaks, "it would be to your benefit to not disrupt that."
Sure, beautiful, probably spoiled, noble girl decides to use you as a pillow while her bodyguard or whatever glares whenever you so much as twitch… in what world did any of that make sense.
I miss living in the forest… at least the things there would only try and eat you…
Looking down at plates filled with seared meats and fragrant vegetables, Xiao Lien sighs as her stomach rumbles. Unless this was a remarkably peculiar form of torture, though given her current state it would also be rather effective, food would have to wait until the sleepy girl woke up.
With nothing to do except try not to drool over the smells emanating from covered bowls, and hoping, probably vainly that time would pass quicker with conversation, she draws on a thread of liquid sunlight for courage and asks, "not to be rude, but I don't, I mean I haven't, Jinxia's kinda far away and…"
"Shameful," the word rings with a such a degree of condemnation that Xiao Lien barely manages to restrain a flinch, "that one could live under Lord Quan Jin's protection, and not know to whom they should pay their thanks."
Well that didn't work… I think the silence and food torture was probably better than this...
"Eighth best," the breathy words brush along her ear and this time Xiao Lien can't avoid the flinch that sends the girl tumbling off her shoulder.
Thankfully, before the bodyguard can murder her, the noble girl speaks, "Aww, she's awake. Why didn't you wake me up Mei Mei? It's rude to nap on people without asking them first, you know…"
"Hiding the evidence of a crime is hardly the same as not committing that crime in the first place isn't it, my lady?" All of that terrifying intensity fades like mist before the sun, leaving behind nothing but faint amusement and what sounded almost like sarcasm.
"Hmph," apparently deciding that she couldn't really argue with that, the blonde turns toward her and smiles, "Hi, I'm Quan Jia, who are you? Where are you from? Are you joining the sect too? Do you have a tail? Can I see it? Ooo we have snacks too. Make sure to eat, Mei Mei said you'd probably be hungry."
A handful of words and Xiao Lien no longer thinks she's going to die this evening, rather she finds herself caught somewhere between amused and overwhelmed. And despite the still glowering bodyguard and the odd thumping of her heart, she finds herself relaxing. "My name is Xiao Lien, I was born and raised in Jinxia. I wasn't accepted into the Sect. and yes, I do have a tail, though it only appears when I channel qi."
Quan Jia opens her mouth to speak, but is interrupted by her no longer as terrifying bodyguard, "If you wish it, my lady, I will serve dinner while the two of you become acquainted."
"Uh uh," the noble girl's smile shifts to something mischievous as she shakes her head, "pops isn't here, so you're going to join us. Mei Mei needs to eat too."
Liu Mei's face twitches in what Xiao Lien could only guess was a genuine smile, and gracefully the bodyguard moves over to where she and Quan Jia were sitting. A trio of plates float in the air beside her and with an obviously exaggerated bow, she sets a them down on the blanket and then sits. "As my lady wishes."
The smell of perfectly seared meat coming from that close after weeks of eating rodents and things scavenged from the garbage finally overcomes what remains of her caution. Abandoning manners, Xiao Lien snatches at the nearest plate and without hesitation raises the plate to her mouth and begins to practically shovel the food inside.
"Hmm, I don't think I can compete with that, but let's give it a try anyway." Quan Jia lifts her plate in mimicry a heartbeat before her bodyguard moves to try and stop her. For several chaotic moments the sound of struggling mixed with laughter fills the clearing. Meanwhile, with a slight flush on her face, Xiao Lien lowers her plate and attempts to eat at a more human pace.
"You win this time Mei Mei," Xiao Lien looks over to where a pouting Quan Jia has abandoned her earlier attempt and is eating with a deliberate kind of slowness that must have been a nobility thing
Even before everything, it had always been a race to get enough to eat before it was gone.
"I don't get it though," Quan Jia's voice breaks a silence that had previously been filled by the clinking of chopsticks as they scraped against porcelain, "that old lady would have severed anyone with core like mine, so that must mean yours is pretty pure, right?"
Xiao Lien leans back, finally satiated, and nods in response to the question, "I think so, yes."
"Imperial policy is to sever any spirit-blooded cultivators whose Diamond Core is less than completely pure, and there's no chance the sect would have missed out on a chance to make a disciple out of someone with a luminous or radiant Core." There was something chilling in hearing about the matter-of-fact way the Empire treated the spirit-blooded. The way it treated people like her.
"That's stupid," Quan Jia proclaims, pointing a finger directly at her bodyguard, "I refuse to allow my new friend to get thrown away like that. Mei Mei, we have to do something."
"I don't think friendship works like tha-," that finger shifts over toward her, and Xiao Lien cuts off mid word.
"You mean you don't want to be friends with me?" Her voice quavers in a way that Xiao Lien is absolutely sure is fake, but still hits too close to home.
How long has it been since I've had fun like this, since I've laughed…
"Of course we're friends Lady-," once again she's cut off mid word.
"Nope, that's not it, friends don't use titles, unless they're really stubborn like Mei Mei." A grin is directed at the bodyguard who responds in kind with the faintest twitch of her lips.
"Then of course I would like to be friends with you Quan Jia," is really the only response she can, and surprisingly, wants to give.
The smile Xiao lien gets in response to that is unsurprisingly similar to that of a ray of sunlight on a cloudy day. "With that settled, there's two things left we must address…"
"First," that warm smile shifts to a grin and Xiao Lien has a brief moment to wonder whether she's made a massive mistake, "friends show each other cool things like say… tails or ears or whatever… right?"
It's an odd thing, for someone to want to see the features that marked her as something other, something worthy of expelling into the wilderness to die alone, but there's no guile in Quan Jia. Innocence and ignorance perhaps, but not anything worse. So, it's without any sense of fear or regret that Xiao Lien channels the warmth of the dawn through her veins and exults in the freedom as her spirit features spill from restraints she no longer noticed.
"Soo fluffy," Quan Jia's fingers twitch, but remarkably, given what little she knew of her new friend, the other girl remains in place.
"Perhaps, my lady, if you asked…" Liu Mei trails off with a shake of her master's head.
"No some things must be earned not given," Quan Jia responds with a nobility that would have probably been more impressive if she weren't discussing her desire to touch Xiao Lien's tail.
"Second," her friend begins:
[] "Do you want to come join the sect with me?" [Uses monthly letter to father option. +1 relationship to Xiao Lien)
[] "you should come with us, we'll figure the other stuff out later." [Does not use monthly letter to father option. No relationship change with Xiao Lien)
Since folks chose money as a superpower, here's how (in part at least) that will work:
Once per month, Quan Jia can send a letter home to her dad telling him how things have been going. Based on how the letter's written, Lord Quan Jin will send care packages back in response.
Mechanically, folks can vote for a turn option to send a letter home and specify the type of benefit they would prefer (art, technique, talisman, resources, etc.), I will roll a 1d100 (with any applicable bonuses re: cultivation arts), and based on the results Quan Jia will get cool things in the mail.
Once per month, Quan Jia can send a letter home to her dad telling him how things have been going. Based on how the letter's written, Lord Quan Jin will send care packages back in response.
Mechanically, folks can vote for a turn option to send a letter home and specify the type of benefit they would prefer (art, technique, talisman, resources, etc.), I will roll a 1d100 (with any applicable bonuses re: cultivation arts), and based on the results Quan Jia will get cool things in the mail.
[AN
I know I said that this would wrap up the character creation, but this chapter ran on a bit longer than I had anticipated. So next chapter will mark the end of character creation.
Also, feel free to yell at me if I haven't updated the character sheet by tomorrow morning.
As an aside, I always find the first couple chapters the most difficult from a characterization standpoint. I've got notes and whatnot, but the characters don't really have a voice until I've actually started writing them]
Last edited: