- Pronouns
- He/Him
I support going to class because Hua Yin is the type of guy who goes to all his classes, even the optional enrichment ones.
The Dao of the Awakened, a Xianxia/Cultivation Quest
- Thread starter warumono
- Start date
- Location
- a place
The first Alchemy class that we took literally explained, in detail, the exact process of creating a Initiate's boon which Hua Yin seemed capable of, how to gather the necessary resources to do so of which they are in abundance, with the only preventing us from making it being a lack of a Pill Furnace. We were also shown to be relatively skilled at medicine in the medical class, with our main obstacle in doing things with it being the lack of people coming to us to treat their injuries, and need to correct those situations in order to do practical things beyond studying with those skills. We know
This reading of the situation is just flat out, explicitly wrong. We know what we can get out of them at the start and what wed need to start applying them, it's just doing so was prohibitively costly in the case of the subjects we've already took. If the buy in cost for starting to make Talisman's is reachably lower then getting a personal pill furnace or medical clinic, we'd be well in our rights to expect to start doing stuff with it based off past class descriptions.
This is a little ironic because we were in fact directly told by the teachers of those class that yes, we would get a chance to work with them in their specialties when assignments began in their various institutes, so opportunities to do so would actually come our way via patience. It's also a bit of a moot point, because it's not as if the plans that don't take Talisman class involve giving it up for write-in involving longshot schemes to somehow get our own pill furnace or start our own back alley private practice. Even if they did, these seem like somewhat longshot schemes that could very well take several actions to get any results in, if their practical at all at the moment, as compared to a comparatively easy, low hanging fruit approach that has already given us consistent results as well as extra rewards on top, and even then given we have 5 actions we'd be better served to keep going to the classes if we did pursue such write-ins.
Last edited:
DangerKitty
shoddy writter
- Location
- lala land
I want to reach the next level of cultivation and master the mortal levin step. Then i want to staet exploring.
I do want to pursue alchemy as well though, so i do kinda support thors twin. Though i do also agree that our mc is the type that goes to all classes which is why i have talismongering in my plan.
I do want to pursue alchemy as well though, so i do kinda support thors twin. Though i do also agree that our mc is the type that goes to all classes which is why i have talismongering in my plan.
- Location
- United States of America
The reading of the situation is not incorrect. You'll notice that none of our current options for this week even include the word "Alchemy." It stands to reason, then, that we are not prepared actually start doing alchemy. What is the cost of resources, both in time and capital, of getting the ingredients to craft an Initiate's Boon? What is the cost of getting access to a pill furnace? How many Initiate's Boons will be created in the process? Until we get those answers, we won't be ready to start practicing what has been taught. We have the knowledge of how to craft a pill, but none of the knowledge about the costs or, ultimately, the benefits. That will require actually going through the process of making it. We also only have the theoretical knowledge about the qi control necessary to make a pill, I expect some practice before we are able to actually manipulate qi in such a manner.
And why would we need a personal pill furnace or a medical clinic? Wouldn't renting a publically available pill furnace or working at the publically available clinic be much more possible and cheaper? There's no reason for getting personalized equipment when we are just starting out, just like there would be no reason to get personalized talismongering tools should we go down that route.
I also did not consider simply waiting until sect jobs become available before actually putting in the work to get better at what we want to be better at. I also don't agree with that perspective. Being proactive in seeking out opportunities, putting in the work to get better at the skills we want to hone, and actually improving strikes me as a worthwhile investment over taking low hanging fruit which, and I will repeat, I am not interested in pursuing. So let me put my money where my mouth is.
[X] Plan Alchemy Focus
-[X] Go to physical training during the week. Sure, it was hell, but Hua Yin knew he was getting better. Maybe he would even get to the point where he wasn't a complete embarrassment!
-[X] Go to cultivation training during the week. Cultivation's the whole point of coming to the Broken Tree, isn't it? It'd be a waste to not go to class. Hua Yin will actually be cultivating in class next week.
-[X] Write in: Figure out where to acquire the tools for alchemy. Where are the Pill Furnaces? How do you get Spirit Stones? What are the costs of acquiring them?
-[x] Gao Jin has offered to spend some time sparring with Hua Yin if he has time in exchange for Hua Yin's help practicing reading. The two boys will practice together in their dormitory. This will also improve Gao Jin's literacy.
-[X] Find a new cultivation technique. The Sprout's Yearning was great, but it was one-size-fits-all. Maybe with something more tailored, Hua Yin could advance faster. He'd need a pass to see the really good stuff, but there had to be basic manuals that disciples could look at, right?
--[x] Search for something that would suit the kiss of tribulation. Maybe try and figure out what the mystery element is? Maybe it's celestial. The scary auntie did call him the celestial wolf.
@warumono, is the Write in: "Figure out where to acquire the tools for alchemy. Where are the Pill Furnaces? How do you get Spirit Stones? What are the costs of acquiring them?" An acceptable write in?
- Location
- a place
Because we don't have access to a Pill Furnace to actually make pills in, and with it not being feasible to acquire one of the small allowance our character's mother sneaks past their father, it is seemingly not possible to get access to one until the assignments happen. That's the reason, after being told about the benefits of the pill, where and how to get the roots it would cost us to make it pulled out of the ground, and how to make it in a furnace we're not being given the option to try. We just straight up lack the means to get the most important of that puzzle.
The same goes for medicine. The 'publicly available clinic' is the sect hospital, which we were told about and our teacher let us know we'd be able to work with them there as soon as sect jobs become available.
Edit: Are you actually arguing that, contrary to any indication in the quest we've been given, that we could have easily rented out some private pill furnace that hasn't been hinted at or worked at some other easy to work at insect medical facility other then the hospital just lying around that was never brought up, but that not only did the GM neglect to tell us the option, but neglected to even put in investigating their existence as a option?
Last edited:
- Location
- United Kingdom
[X] Plan keeping our friends and a new technique
I hadn't actually realised this included talismongering. Gao Jin's social is fine as well.
One thing I will say is we should definitely do the Koan study next week. We needed to leave it for a week after we studied it last, and if we don't complete it with our next action that means we need to study it in Week 6 if we want to study it again before the end of Week 8:
Week 6: Study the Koan
Week 7: Let it percolate
Week 8: Study again
If it completes in Week 6 that's great, it frees up an action Week 8, but if not then we want to maximise what we get out of it. Plus this'd mean maybe getting a bonus out of it to spend on our Week 8 cultivation exam.
I hadn't actually realised this included talismongering. Gao Jin's social is fine as well.
One thing I will say is we should definitely do the Koan study next week. We needed to leave it for a week after we studied it last, and if we don't complete it with our next action that means we need to study it in Week 6 if we want to study it again before the end of Week 8:
Week 6: Study the Koan
Week 7: Let it percolate
Week 8: Study again
If it completes in Week 6 that's great, it frees up an action Week 8, but if not then we want to maximise what we get out of it. Plus this'd mean maybe getting a bonus out of it to spend on our Week 8 cultivation exam.
- Pronouns
- He/It/Argh!
I'm not scoffing at it. (That is what the dice do to our plans. ;( )
I just feel it would be more interesting to mix up 1 cultivation action per week with cultivation study. I don't particularly want to read 2 cultivation actions per week.
We already know of two places where they exist. Surely we just go and prise them out?
Overall, I think people might be overly stressed about the 8 week 'exams'.
We won prizes in the Alchemy and Medical classes just by turning up. Let's keep doing that.
This is how the cultivation test is described.
So we are being tested on progress, dedication and knowledge.
We are making decent progress. We picked stats so that we would. We are almost at middle Initiate.
Turning up to all the classes is obviously going to happen, because nerd.
Knowledge is something we could spend a bit more effort in.
Here is how the combat exam is described:
Now this is quite vague. It could be a raw brute strength test, or it could account for progress and dedication. We don't really know.
While we are making decent progress, we aren't going to win a brute strength test, and quite possibly not even sparring matches unless we get some sort of edge.
We don't really have time to train up another combat style, but we might be able to do well enough with learning Levin Step to surprise our opponents.
Unless we turn out to be some sort of (very) secret prodigy, we aren't likely to excel at all the exams.
And since we are the nerdy character, we should expect that to be the combat exam. We are on track to being decent, but we don't need to drop everything else in an attempt to be stronger than everyone else.
@Thor's Twin, the write in is ok, but it will only be an investigative action.
—————
For timing purposes, the exams for both classes are in different weeks. I wasn't sure if that was clear.
The cultivation class exam will be in the Week 8 update and the physical training exam will be in the Week 9 update.
It made sense for me so I don't have to write a massive update with both exams and also made sense that you wouldn't want to have a fighty exam the same week as you have a more academic exam.
—————
For timing purposes, the exams for both classes are in different weeks. I wasn't sure if that was clear.
The cultivation class exam will be in the Week 8 update and the physical training exam will be in the Week 9 update.
It made sense for me so I don't have to write a massive update with both exams and also made sense that you wouldn't want to have a fighty exam the same week as you have a more academic exam.
Last edited:
Continuing the theme of write-ins, do we want to approach our seniors after combat and/or cultivation class and ask for information on the exams?
- Pronouns
- He/It/Argh!
I feel like it would certainly be in character.
- Location
- Spain
- Pronouns
- He/Him
YEEEES!! WE WON!!!
By the way, I want to include Song Chyou (farmer girl) Yang Genji (Sun girl) and Xue Min (hammer girl) in our friend group ...
So I love this option!!
[ ] Cultivate at the Font of the Supplicant's Tears. Hua Yin would go to cultivate at the Font of the Supplicant's Tears. Unless there's a write-in otherwise, he will use the strongest cultivation aide that he can. Xue Ming also spends her morning cultivating, and maybe they could build a friendship on that foundation.
But for now I commit to that plan ...
[X] Plan keeping our friends and a new technique
By the way, I want to include Song Chyou (farmer girl) Yang Genji (Sun girl) and Xue Min (hammer girl) in our friend group ...
So I love this option!!
[ ] Cultivate at the Font of the Supplicant's Tears. Hua Yin would go to cultivate at the Font of the Supplicant's Tears. Unless there's a write-in otherwise, he will use the strongest cultivation aide that he can. Xue Ming also spends her morning cultivating, and maybe they could build a friendship on that foundation.
But for now I commit to that plan ...
[X] Plan keeping our friends and a new technique
[X] Plan keeping our friends and a new technique
[X] Plan: Finding Our Own Way with Levin Step
Week 5 pt. 1 - Finding Something New
Super late, but I made my deadline!
There's a malus in the Gao Jin section that I hadn't thought of last time that I've added. I wanted to call it out before anyone calls me out.
The cultivation training section will be up once you've picked a technique, and we've resolved the side-adventure. It'll be a short update on Friday as tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the states. There will be a Lore section dropped which should somewhat make up for the length of the next update. You'll all get a look at the Purple Silk Kingdom.
-----
On the first night of the week, dinner was river fish with rice and pickled vegetables. It was good, though not as filling as the Broken Tree's other meals. Hua Yin focused all of his attention on eating. He had discovered that his newfound strength and agility made him hungrier, though that was balanced out by less of a need to eat from his cultivation. Either way, he enjoyed food. There weren't many recreational pleasures at the Broken Tree, but the quite good food was one of them.
"It's not fair," Li Gai said as he sat down to dinner. Li Gai's attendance at these meals with Hua Yin, Gao Jin, and Guan Zhi was sporadic. Guan Zhi had said that Li Gai was focused on cultivating and breaking through. Li Gai looked haggard, as if he had not slept. His eyes were hooded, and his clothes were marked with scree. He had likely recently been at the Supplicant's Tears.
"What is unfair, Li Gai?" Hua Yin asked in between small bites of tender fish.
"You all being Awakened. Even with your Boons, I haven't broken through yet. I feel it coming, but I can't get there!"
"It will come in time. You would not have been accepted to the Broken Tree unless you had the potential to break through," interjected Guan Zhi. Both Hua Yin and Gao Jin nodded in agreement.
"That's easy for you to say. You're not mortal like me."
"We are not. But we are your friends, and we know you have the potential inside of you."
"Even Feng's broken through!"
"Spirit beasts are different. You know that."
Hua Yin took a second look at Feng. He noticed that there was something different looking about the hawk. He looked stronger and more regal. Bigger too. At first, Hua Yin had thought it was just the hawk growing into his body. Knowing that the animal had broken through to the Initiate Realm made Hua Yin curious about how far the hawk could go and what changes would be wrought. Li Gai absent mindedly fed a piece of fish to the hawk as he continued to complain, "What if my admission was a mistake? What if I can't cultivate?"
"You've taken in Qi, haven't you? That means you're a cultivator," Gao Jin said matter-of-factly. His voice had no pity in it. Gao Jin was the most advanced cultivator in the group and didn't seem to understand that others would have trouble advancing as quickly.
Li Gai lapsed into silence. He focused on his food with a desultory look on his face. The conversation between the three other boys died in the face of their friend's distress.
----
Core Disciple Chu Quiang seemed more somber than usual in the first day of classes that week. Rather than force the class immediately into a run like he usually did, he addressed them in a lecture. "Remember, combat is often a chaotic mess. Your goal then is to keep your head. That does not just mean stopping yourself from fleeing when the combat goes against you. It means maintaining your ability to fight your fight, to use the techniques and the style that you have learned in an effective manner. I am over three hundred years old. I have fought in almost all of the Empire's conflicts in that time. I have faced down the highlanders of the Gallow Hills Nations and their demon allies. I have stood against the heavy cavalry of the Purple Silk Kingdom. I have seen off the raiders from across the sea, and I have stood against the northern barbarians. I would not have survived such a thing without keeping my wits about me, trusting in my skills, and the skills of those beside me.
"We match you against one another here so that you may sharpen your skills and build a foundation. But you must remember that you are all here to serve Sect and Empire. You are brothers and sisters. The person you spar today may be the person you depend upon to watch your back tomorrow. Even as Outer Disciples, you must serve. Even as first years, you may need to march if the Sect goes to war. I know that some of you expect to be with the Broken Tree only for a short while before going to join either the Empire's forces or the forces of the Duchies. But remember, while you are here, you are members of the Broken Tree and serve accordingly. Don't forget to support one another.
"Alright, back to the run." He gave the assembled disciples a cunning look. "Today I have a special gift for all of you." He pointed to stack of bags of rice nearby. "You will be carrying those up and down the mountain today and for the foreseeable future."
There was a general groan from those who performed less well in the class, including Hua Yin. He could see from the corner of his eye that Lao Ai was about to cry. Though she had improved, she was still the dead last in the class. Hua Yin felt sorry for her. Between his breakthrough and his newfound strength, he thought that he'd struggle with the rice bags, but he'd manage the run. He didn't know if Lao Ai would.
As he ran with the heavy bag of rice on his shoulder, he found himself to the back of the much-slowed pack. Though he wasn't quite at the middle, he was close enough that he didn't feel bad about himself. He was keeping pace with Li Gai at the very least. He would never even have imagined doing that much even just a few weeks before. But now he was keeping pace. Admittedly, it was mostly with mortals that had yet to break through, but any progress was still progress.
In forms, he felt almost competent. His punches were faster and more forceful, his blocks were more solid, and his stances were firmer. He was no longer dead last with Lao Ai. There were others who did not do as well as he did. It was refreshing. He had a newfound understanding of the Wooden Hand, and though it still did not feel like it was made for him, it was no longer so awkward that he couldn't use it.
He dreaded sparring, but he knew he would have to face that fear if he was going to be a cultivator. He sparred twice that week. Admittedly, his first match was a joke. But he was paired with Yang Genji. No one expected him to do well. And he didn't. But he prided himself on the fact that he managed to keep in his Wooden Hand stance and used the Levin Step. He kept his head. It wasn't a total embarrassment because no one expected anything other than total defeat. After all, Yang Genji was one of the top fighters in the class. People still talked about her match with Bao Lam. She took it easy on him, but she still smashed him into the ground in record time. At the very least, she helped him up afterwards.
His second match would tell him how much he had actually improved. Now that he felt he had at least a beginner's grasp on unarmed combat and on the Wooden Hand, he felt it deep within himself that he would do better than he had in the past.
Hua Yin was paired against the disciple that Hua Yin had mentally named Droopy. Hua Yin still did not know Droopy's real name. To be honest, Hua Yin knew next to nothing about Droopy except that he was not the best performer. Droopy had not done very well in the medical course. Hua Yin had not seen Droopy breakthrough to the Initiate Realm in cultivation class. Droopy was one of Hua Yin's peers at the bottom tier of physical training. If he could defeat Droopy, Hua Yin knew that he had truly improved. And to be honest, if he could not defeat Droopy or at least make a good showing, Hua Yin had no idea who he could defeat.
Hua Yin and Droopy both got into their Wooden Hand stances, legs shoulder width apart, knees bent, arms up and ready to block. Hua Yin took the initiative. He stepped forward and threw a combination of straight and round punches like he had been taught. Hua Yin felt the impact as his arms slammed against Droopy's block. Droopy was thrown off his stance; he did not look as ready to receive strikes as he had just a moment before. Droopy tried to counter, but his balance was off. He whiffed as Hua Yin's feet went from planted to mobile with use of the Levin Step. Hua Yin took advantage of the other boy's mistake. Planting his feet again, Hua Yin twisted his hips and slammed his fists against Droopy's face. Droopy fell back , and Hua Yin gave him space in surprise at actually having hit somebody well. For the next few moments, they both pawed at the air, Droopy trying to catch his breath, and Hua Yin trying to judge the range for his next attack.
Hua Yin stepped forward again. With his stance solid, he threw a massive punch against Droopy that Droopy was unable to block. Droopy fell backwards, obviously injured. Hua Yin could taste victory in the air and took advantage. He hit Droopy again. Though it was not strong as his previous strike, it was more than enough as Droopy went sprawling, and Core Disciple Chu Quiang called the match.
Hua Yin felt absolute elation. He had done it. He had won a fight for the first time in his entire life. And he had done it without taking any damage. Whether that spoke more of his skill or Droopy's, he didn't care. All that mattered was the feeling of success inside of Hua Yin's chest. He looked around for his friends to share his moment with them. Gao Jin and Li Gai were both in their own matches and were not paying attention. But Guan Zhi had seen. Guan Zhi gave Hua Yin a serene smile, as if this was always meant to be.
Both Gao Jin and Li Gai congratulated him for his success after class. Gao Jin patted Hua Yin on the back so hard that Hua Yin knew the old him would have fallen to the floor. Li Gai looked pensive. One of the few things that Li Gai had been better at than Hua Yin was physical training. Now, Hua Yin was catching up.
At the end of the day, Hua Yin's victory did not really matter in the grand scheme of things. He had beaten a mortal who had not even broken through to the Initiate Realm. He had beaten someone who was almost as bad as he was in a fight. But Hua Yin did not care about any of that. He just basked in his victory.
+3 Unarmed Progression
+3 Successes to Wooden Hand Progression
-----
Talismongering class was different than Hua Yin's previous courses. When Hua Yin entered the hall, he saw a table with an assortment of items on it, including rings, a stave, and what looked like a box. The presiding Core Disciple introduced herself as Guo Xinyi. She was thick, with large arms, large legs, and a large torso. She wasn't fat. It would take an absolutely massive amount of effort for a cultivator of her level to be truly fat. No, she was just big. Her voice was booming as she said, "Welcome to intro to talismongering. I'm Guo Xinyi. I'll be your teacher. Today, we're going to go over the basics of what talismongering is.
"At its core, talismongering is turning something that is Qi-rich into something else that has an affect on the world and not just on a cultivator's body. That four-eyed poisonous toad's gall bladder? That can be incorporated into a wand that can make the toad's deadly poison available to your hands to be used against a foe. Talismongering covers the creation of a wide variety of objects." She picked up one of the rings, "Here's a storage ring, made out of spirit stones and the essence of a void wraith. There are other storage rings like it, but none with the exact combination of features." She moved onto the next item. "Here's that poison stave I was talking about, made out of pieces of a poisonous toad. Upon command, it will throw out a viscous poison that will burn through mortal flesh." She moved onto another item, "And then there's this. A good old fashioned cold box. These are made all over the Empire, and all that they require is the right spirit stones, some spirit-ink, etching tools, and a small amount of skill to make."
She looked over the class as she continued, "You're not going to get the intricacies of the talismonger's art in this class. What you will get is a general sense of what we're doing here, incorporating Qi, binding will, and creating an effect on the world. I hate being the last of the introductory classes before you're all integrated into the Broken Tree's duties. You'll all receive invitations from the various departments of the Sect once the tenth week hits. That's where you'll be making your contributions. If you don't get an invite, you'll work for the Administration and become part of the largest working group in the Broken Tree. The talismongers are the second largest. We accept the less talented, because even the less talented can be taught how to make valuable items so long as they can manipulate Qi. But that's not all we are. We also have some of the greatest artisans, blacksmiths, and calligraphers in the world working under our aegis. Not only do we create everyday items, but we also create and safeguard the Broken Tree's treasures. I hope you will join us when you get the chance.
"As part of my sell, the best performer in this class will receive some top-grade spirit-ink. Made from a cultivator's blood and spirit stones, the ink is ripe to make talisman scrolls. They'll also receive spirit paper, made from special materials. These have already been prepped to take on a binding. Some of you may not know what talisman scrolls can do. Let me show you."
She took up one of the scrolls on the table. She read from it, saying the word, "Flame." The scroll burned up and from between her hands, a stream of fire burst into the air. "Talisman scrolls are always one-use, but they can take on any number of effects. It is up to your will, your imagination, and your Qi. You never get out more than you have already put in. So it is with this class. Again, the best performers in my questioning and in the practical exam at the end of these two weeks will receive these supplies. Hopefully, they'll be able to make something amazing with them. Good luck to you all."
As Core Disciple Guo Xinyi continued to lecture, Hua Yin looked around the room. There were fewer people here than in the alchemy course or in either the cultivation or physical trainings, but more than in the medical class. He was sitting next to Guan Zhi, and nearby was Lao Ai with an especially attractive girl with charms in her hair. Tao Yangyuan, colorful as always, was in a corner as was Zhe Chao, who paid absolute attention to the lecturer with a dogged determination. Yang Genji was in the front; the girl was studiously taking notes. She was one of the only nobles in the room. The other was one of the twins, who Hua Yin could still not tell apart. And of course, throughout the room were other members of the Broken Tree that Hua Yin had not gotten to know. Most of them looked like they were already lost.
"Spirit scrolls are the easiest form of talisman to make. That is not to say it is easy, but even a cultivator of the low Initiate Realm can infuse a talisman, and a cultivator of the pinnacle Initiate Realm can bind one, albeit the binding will not last nearly as long as if it were done by someone of a higher cultivation level. The process of creating a spirit scroll is simple enough." With that, she brought out a stylus upon which was a sheet of paper. Seemingly from thin air, she retrieved a brush and an ink pot that she put on the table.
"The creation and use of spirit scrolls has three steps, each of which requires the use of Qi. I am going to loosen my control over my aura and light up my Qi flows so you can see what I'm doing." A moment later, Hua Yin felt the intense pressure that only came from a powerful Awakened. Along with it, he smelled steel, tasted fire, and heard something else that he could not quite place. Something with ink and paper and dust. Core Disciple Guo Xinyi started to glow. All around her ribbons of Qi rippled through the air, clear but visible via dint of their movement.
"Firstly, there is the binding step. I use my will, my brush, and spirit ink to imbue what I want onto the spirit paper. Observe." Hua Yin watched as the Core Disciple wrote the words "Flame Flower" in beautiful calligraphy onto the scroll. Her Qi embedded itself into the paper as she drew the characters. It felt like heat was emanating from her. "I visualize what I want and paint with my Qi what I understand the words to mean and what I want them to mean. Now that I've bound my desire onto the scroll, I need to infuse it with Qi." She put down her brush, and Hua Yin watched as the ribbons of Qi flowed into the scroll. "By doing so, I infuse the scroll, giving it the energy it needs to do its job. Remember, you do not get more out of item than you put in. It's why most Qi-based technology includes engravings that actively harvest Qi from the air. In the case of scrolls, whatever effect I'm looking for is powered by the Qi that I infused it with and that comes with the ingredients I combine to make the scroll." Once her Qi finished fusing into the scroll, turning it a bright, ruddy orange, she reined in her Qi. All of a sudden the sensation of pressure left the air. Hua Yin no longer felt phantom sensations.
"And now that I've bound and infused the scroll, it can be used." Taking it up, she intoned the words on the scroll in a clear voice. The scroll burned and, in its place appeared a lotus flower made solely of fire. It burned in the air for a moment before disappearing. "I use my Qi to activate the binding. And that's how you make and use a spirit scroll. Making other types of talismans is not so different. They all require the same stages of binding, infusing, and using, but every medium has intricacies that must be accounted for. You will learn many of those intricacies if you so choose to join us in the Talismonger's Treasury."
Towards the end of the class, Core Disciple Guo Xinyi asked for questions and asked questions of her own. Lao Ai was obviously at the lead of the class. The quiet but smart girl revealed a deep knowledge of the subject of talismongering. She and Core Disciple Guo Xinyi went off on a solid five-minute tangent about the various effects of spirit beast blood on the etchings of artifacts. Hua Yin lost the lede in less than two minutes. Tao Yangyuan stood up to her questioning well, and so did Yang Genji. Hua Yin was not surprised. They had both excelled in the other courses. Zhe Chao also did well. Every time they got an answer correct, they would shoot a venomous glance at Hua Yin. Hua Yin didn't understand why there was so much animosity there, but honestly, he was getting annoyed at Zhe Chao too. It got aggravating being glared at all the time.
Hua Yin did not do badly, but he was also not excellent. Like everyone else in the class, he was in Lao Ai's shadow. He consoled himself with the thought that he did about as well as Zhe Chao did.
+1 Successes to Craft Progression.
+3 Successes to Knowledge: Crafting Progression.
----
Gao Jin dodged and then drove a fist deep into Hua Yin's ribs. The wind was forcibly pushed from Hua Yin's body, and he staggered backwards with an oof. "Be more ready," Gao Jin said sternly. "You know my style. I'm comin' in hard. You can't pussyfoot around. Throw or dodge. Don't hesitate."
"Gratitude," Hua Yin said, though it was hard to feel gratitude after getting punched.
Gao Jin didn't talk about much. He generally didn't talk much. But during these training sessions, Gao Jin spoke more than he normally did. Gao Jin had a keen eye for combat. Maybe not as sharp as Guan Zhi's but definitely an eye that was significantly more astute than Hua Yin's. He turned all of that attention on Hua Yin.
Gao Jin motioned for Hua Yin to come forward again. Getting back into his Wooden Hand stance, Hua Yin obliged. Twisting his hips like a branch in the wind, Hua Yin threw a combination of punches at the other boy. Gao Jin blocked each one and then proceeded to kick Hua Yin in the leg. Hua Yin grabbed it in pain.
"Stop. How are you going to fight Mo Xiang if you're going to curl up after one shot?"
Hua Yin did not know how Gao Jin knew how badly he wanted to defeat Mo Xiang. He hadn't ever vocalized it. But Gao Jin was his friend, and the gruff gangster was more observant than anyone, including Hua Yin, gave him credit for. Hua Yin winced once more but then got back into stance. Gao Jin started the action this time around. Gao Jin came forward with a massively telegraphed overhand punch that Hua Yin managed to catch on his upraised arms. Hua Yin knew he would have a bruise the next day. Gao Jin's already impressive strength had only grown after his cultivation advancements.
"Good block. Now do it again." And again and again. Gao Jin rained punches on the slighter Hua Yin. But Hua Yin knew each punch was slower than it could've been, just that much weaker. Hua Yin was grateful that his friend was taking it easy on him. Thankfully, Gao Jin never decided to use the hatchet that he occasionally carried along with him.
Having a friend's help was useful. Hua Yin could feel himself making strides. Away from the training fields, Hua Yin felt less pressure to look passable and could focus that attention on being passable instead. Gao Jin's tough talk and tougher method of teaching also helped cement the lessons into Hua Yin's body.
In exchange for the combat training, Hua Yin helped Gao Jin with his reading. As difficult of a taskmaster as Gao Jin was when it came to fighting, Hua Yin was just as bad when it came to reading. Hua Yin constantly quizzed Gao Jin on different characters and made him re-read passages from their cultivator novels to make sure he both had an understanding of what the word meant and how to pronounce it. It was an arduous task. Like Gao Jin could not quite understand how Hua Yin could be so bad at fighting, Hua Yin could not quite understand how Gao Jin did not do so well at reading.
But they were both patient with one another, which is what mattered. They helped each other to do better. By the end of the week, they were on the last of Hua Yin's cultivator novels, and Gao Jin was reading the, admittedly simple, text with barely any pauses or stuttering.
"Now, we proceed to textbooks!"
Gao Jin groaned.
+5 Successes to Unarmed Progression.
----
Every time that Hua Yin went to the Archives, he was impressed. It really was a grand building. Its entrance was decorated with bas relief sculptures of the great deeds of cultivators that had come before. The inside was equally grand, all old wood, carved stone, and flameless light. Hua Yin felt history here. The Broken Tree had been around for millennia, and one could feel it when entering the Archives. Upon going inside, Hua Yin once again felt Qi batting at his senses.
Hua Yin went up to the attendant at the front desk. It was Inner Disciple Peng again. The mustachioed man with a red rope necklace smiled at Hua Yin in greeting. "Welcome back junior. Can I help you with something?"
Hua Yin nodded. "Gratitude senior. I was hoping to be pointed towards where I could find some manuals on cultivation techniques."
Inner Disciple Peng got a shrewd look on his face, "Trying to find something better than the Yearning huh? Well, I can help with that. It won't even cost you anything. This time anyways, unless you're looking for something specific. Down the hall five stacks, take a left, walk to the wall and take a right. The entire shelf in front of you will be the beginner cultivation techniques. Obviously they're not the best, the good stuff is in the Technique Repositories, but it should get you started on your research. Next time you ask for help though, bring a Boon."
Hua Yin followed the directions exactly. Again, he marveled at the sense of Qi emanating from the back of the Archives. He wondered what that was back there exuded so much Qi. Maybe it was a Font. Maybe it was some especially powerful talismans. Either way, his curiosity was piqued. However, he did not scratch that itch, because he knew he would not be allowed back there.
Reaching the correct shelves, he perused the available titles. There was a decent selection of options. Enough to fill three rows on one of the shelves. Scanning through them, he used all of the knowledge that he gained in his cultivation training to pick ones that would fit the Kiss of Tribulation. His knowledge of cultivation techniques was still basic, so he could only understand so much of the flowery language within the books, but he believed he got enough to get a sense of at least the beginner levels of the techniques.
Among the options, the best of his choices were:
[ ] The Midnight Visitation: An introductory cultivation technique that focuses on soaking on re-cycling Qi in the air to get the maximum amount of benefit out of the minimum amount of Qi. At first level, reroll 2 dice on a cultivation roll.
[ ] Breath of the Storm: An introductory cultivation technique requiring deep breathing similar to the howl of air in a storm. At first level, trade 2 cultivation dice for 1 guaranteed cultivation training success.
Whatever he decided on picking, he would have to pay a silver to have the book copied for his personal use.
----
In the middle of the week, something strange happened. As Hua Yin was walking back from the Archives, his perceptive ears heard crying. He didn't recognize the voice immediately, but he was curious, so he followed the sound.
Behind one of the dormitories, he saw Song Chyou and the spirit-blooded boy with the slit eyes and sharp teeth. He was standing across Song Chyou as she cried. He just looked at her as if she were an alien.
What does Hua Yin do?
[ ] Run to the rescue. Song Chyou might not be one of Hua Yin's good friends, but she was good people and the spirit-blooded boy had obviously done something to her.
[ ] Observe surreptitiously. Hua Yin didn't have to act. He could just see what was going on. Sure, he knew Song Chyou but he didn't know her well enough to interfere with her problems. This will require a Sneak roll and will thereby also look snearky.
[ ] Leave. This is none of Hua Yin's business.
[ ] Write-in.
----
Please vote for both a choice of cultivation technique and for reaction to Song Chyou's crying.
There's a malus in the Gao Jin section that I hadn't thought of last time that I've added. I wanted to call it out before anyone calls me out.
The cultivation training section will be up once you've picked a technique, and we've resolved the side-adventure. It'll be a short update on Friday as tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the states. There will be a Lore section dropped which should somewhat make up for the length of the next update. You'll all get a look at the Purple Silk Kingdom.
-[X] Go to physical training during the week. Sure, it was hell, but Hua Yin knew he was getting better. Maybe he would even get to the point where he wasn't a complete embarrassment!
-[X] Go to cultivation training during the week. Cultivation's the whole point of coming to the Broken Tree, isn't it? It'd be a waste to not go to class. Hua Yin will actually be cultivating in class next week.
-[X] Go to the introductory talismongering class. Creating items from Qi-rich materials, how is that not interesting? Since the Sect is offering, Hua Yin might as well partake.
-[x] Gao Jin has offered to spend some time sparring with Hua Yin if he has time in exchange for Hua Yin's help practicing reading. The two boys will practice together in their dormitory. This will also improve Gao Jin's literacy.
-[X] Find a new cultivation technique. The Sprout's Yearning was great, but it was one-size-fits-all. Maybe with something more tailored, Hua Yin could advance faster. He'd need a pass to see the really good stuff, but there had to be basic manuals that disciples could look at, right?
--[x] Search for something that would suit the kiss of tribulation. Maybe try and figure out what the mystery element is? Maybe it's celestial. The scary auntie did call him the celestial wolf.
-[X] Go to cultivation training during the week. Cultivation's the whole point of coming to the Broken Tree, isn't it? It'd be a waste to not go to class. Hua Yin will actually be cultivating in class next week.
-[X] Go to the introductory talismongering class. Creating items from Qi-rich materials, how is that not interesting? Since the Sect is offering, Hua Yin might as well partake.
-[x] Gao Jin has offered to spend some time sparring with Hua Yin if he has time in exchange for Hua Yin's help practicing reading. The two boys will practice together in their dormitory. This will also improve Gao Jin's literacy.
-[X] Find a new cultivation technique. The Sprout's Yearning was great, but it was one-size-fits-all. Maybe with something more tailored, Hua Yin could advance faster. He'd need a pass to see the really good stuff, but there had to be basic manuals that disciples could look at, right?
--[x] Search for something that would suit the kiss of tribulation. Maybe try and figure out what the mystery element is? Maybe it's celestial. The scary auntie did call him the celestial wolf.
-----
On the first night of the week, dinner was river fish with rice and pickled vegetables. It was good, though not as filling as the Broken Tree's other meals. Hua Yin focused all of his attention on eating. He had discovered that his newfound strength and agility made him hungrier, though that was balanced out by less of a need to eat from his cultivation. Either way, he enjoyed food. There weren't many recreational pleasures at the Broken Tree, but the quite good food was one of them.
"It's not fair," Li Gai said as he sat down to dinner. Li Gai's attendance at these meals with Hua Yin, Gao Jin, and Guan Zhi was sporadic. Guan Zhi had said that Li Gai was focused on cultivating and breaking through. Li Gai looked haggard, as if he had not slept. His eyes were hooded, and his clothes were marked with scree. He had likely recently been at the Supplicant's Tears.
"What is unfair, Li Gai?" Hua Yin asked in between small bites of tender fish.
"You all being Awakened. Even with your Boons, I haven't broken through yet. I feel it coming, but I can't get there!"
"It will come in time. You would not have been accepted to the Broken Tree unless you had the potential to break through," interjected Guan Zhi. Both Hua Yin and Gao Jin nodded in agreement.
"That's easy for you to say. You're not mortal like me."
"We are not. But we are your friends, and we know you have the potential inside of you."
"Even Feng's broken through!"
"Spirit beasts are different. You know that."
Hua Yin took a second look at Feng. He noticed that there was something different looking about the hawk. He looked stronger and more regal. Bigger too. At first, Hua Yin had thought it was just the hawk growing into his body. Knowing that the animal had broken through to the Initiate Realm made Hua Yin curious about how far the hawk could go and what changes would be wrought. Li Gai absent mindedly fed a piece of fish to the hawk as he continued to complain, "What if my admission was a mistake? What if I can't cultivate?"
"You've taken in Qi, haven't you? That means you're a cultivator," Gao Jin said matter-of-factly. His voice had no pity in it. Gao Jin was the most advanced cultivator in the group and didn't seem to understand that others would have trouble advancing as quickly.
Li Gai lapsed into silence. He focused on his food with a desultory look on his face. The conversation between the three other boys died in the face of their friend's distress.
----
Core Disciple Chu Quiang seemed more somber than usual in the first day of classes that week. Rather than force the class immediately into a run like he usually did, he addressed them in a lecture. "Remember, combat is often a chaotic mess. Your goal then is to keep your head. That does not just mean stopping yourself from fleeing when the combat goes against you. It means maintaining your ability to fight your fight, to use the techniques and the style that you have learned in an effective manner. I am over three hundred years old. I have fought in almost all of the Empire's conflicts in that time. I have faced down the highlanders of the Gallow Hills Nations and their demon allies. I have stood against the heavy cavalry of the Purple Silk Kingdom. I have seen off the raiders from across the sea, and I have stood against the northern barbarians. I would not have survived such a thing without keeping my wits about me, trusting in my skills, and the skills of those beside me.
"We match you against one another here so that you may sharpen your skills and build a foundation. But you must remember that you are all here to serve Sect and Empire. You are brothers and sisters. The person you spar today may be the person you depend upon to watch your back tomorrow. Even as Outer Disciples, you must serve. Even as first years, you may need to march if the Sect goes to war. I know that some of you expect to be with the Broken Tree only for a short while before going to join either the Empire's forces or the forces of the Duchies. But remember, while you are here, you are members of the Broken Tree and serve accordingly. Don't forget to support one another.
"Alright, back to the run." He gave the assembled disciples a cunning look. "Today I have a special gift for all of you." He pointed to stack of bags of rice nearby. "You will be carrying those up and down the mountain today and for the foreseeable future."
There was a general groan from those who performed less well in the class, including Hua Yin. He could see from the corner of his eye that Lao Ai was about to cry. Though she had improved, she was still the dead last in the class. Hua Yin felt sorry for her. Between his breakthrough and his newfound strength, he thought that he'd struggle with the rice bags, but he'd manage the run. He didn't know if Lao Ai would.
As he ran with the heavy bag of rice on his shoulder, he found himself to the back of the much-slowed pack. Though he wasn't quite at the middle, he was close enough that he didn't feel bad about himself. He was keeping pace with Li Gai at the very least. He would never even have imagined doing that much even just a few weeks before. But now he was keeping pace. Admittedly, it was mostly with mortals that had yet to break through, but any progress was still progress.
In forms, he felt almost competent. His punches were faster and more forceful, his blocks were more solid, and his stances were firmer. He was no longer dead last with Lao Ai. There were others who did not do as well as he did. It was refreshing. He had a newfound understanding of the Wooden Hand, and though it still did not feel like it was made for him, it was no longer so awkward that he couldn't use it.
He dreaded sparring, but he knew he would have to face that fear if he was going to be a cultivator. He sparred twice that week. Admittedly, his first match was a joke. But he was paired with Yang Genji. No one expected him to do well. And he didn't. But he prided himself on the fact that he managed to keep in his Wooden Hand stance and used the Levin Step. He kept his head. It wasn't a total embarrassment because no one expected anything other than total defeat. After all, Yang Genji was one of the top fighters in the class. People still talked about her match with Bao Lam. She took it easy on him, but she still smashed him into the ground in record time. At the very least, she helped him up afterwards.
His second match would tell him how much he had actually improved. Now that he felt he had at least a beginner's grasp on unarmed combat and on the Wooden Hand, he felt it deep within himself that he would do better than he had in the past.
Hua Yin was paired against the disciple that Hua Yin had mentally named Droopy. Hua Yin still did not know Droopy's real name. To be honest, Hua Yin knew next to nothing about Droopy except that he was not the best performer. Droopy had not done very well in the medical course. Hua Yin had not seen Droopy breakthrough to the Initiate Realm in cultivation class. Droopy was one of Hua Yin's peers at the bottom tier of physical training. If he could defeat Droopy, Hua Yin knew that he had truly improved. And to be honest, if he could not defeat Droopy or at least make a good showing, Hua Yin had no idea who he could defeat.
Hua Yin dodge: INT (6) + AGL (3) + Levin Step (1) – Wooden Hand (2) = 8
Hua Yin attack: AGL (3) + Unarmed (1)
Hua Yin receives +2 damage and +5 armor because of the Wooden Hand.
Droopy dodge: INT (??) + AGL (??) – Wooden Hand (2) = 4
Droopy attack: AGL (??) + Unarmed (??) = 4
Droopy receives +2 damage and +5 armor because of the Wooden Hand.
Round 1
warumonoqm rolls 4d6e5 = 1 5⊕ 5⊕ 6⊕ → 3 successes against 5
warumonoqm rolls 1d6e5 = 4 → 0 successes against 5
warumonoqm rolls 4d6e5 = 4 3 6⊕ 5⊕ → 2 successes against 5
warumonoqm rolls 1d6e5 = 3 → 0 successes against 5
Hua Yin hits with 1 net success. Hua Yin does 5 (3 Stun + 2 Phys) damage.
Hua Yin pierces Droopy's armor.
warumonoqm rolls 4d6e5 = 4 2 6⊕ 3 → 1 success against 5
warumonoqm rolls 1d6e5 = 3 → 0 successes against 5
warumonoqm rolls 8d6e5 = 4 1 1 1 1 6⊕ 6⊕ 3 → 2 successes against 5
Hua Yin dodges.
Round 2
warumonoqm rolls 4d6e5 = 5⊕ 2 6⊕ 6⊕ → 3 successes against 5
warumonoqm rolls 2d6e5 = 3 6⊕ → 1 success against 5
warumonoqm rolls 1d6e5 = 3 → 0 successes against 5
warumonoqm rolls 4d6e5 = 4 4 6⊕ 4 → 1 success against 5
warumonoqm rolls 1d6e5 = 6⊕ → 1 success against 5
warumonoqm rolls 1d6e5 = 5⊕ → 1 success against 5
Hua Yin hits with 1 net success. Hua Yin does 5 (3 Stun + 2 Phys) damage.
warumonoqm rolls 4d6e5 = 3 1 1 2 → 0 successes against 5
Hua Yin dodges.
Round 3
warumonoqm rolls 4d6e5 = 3 6⊕ 3 1 → 1 success against 5
warumonoqm rolls 1d6e5 = 1 → 0 successes against 5
warumonoqm rolls 4d6e5 = 2 6⊕ 3 6⊕ → 2 successes against 5
Droopy dodges.
warumonoqm rolls 4d6e5 = 5⊕ 2 2 2 → 1 success against 5
warumonoqm rolls 8d6e5 = 6⊕ 5⊕ 4 3 1 1 4 3 → 2 successes against 5
Hua Yin dodges.
Round 4
warumonoqm rolls 4d6e5 = 5⊕ 6⊕ 5⊕ 1 → 3 successes against 5
warumonoqm rolls 1d6e5 = 5⊕ → 1 success against 5
warumonoqm rolls 4d6e5 = 4 3 1 1 → 0 successes against 5
Hua Yin hits with 4 net successes. He does 8 (4 Stun + 4 Phys) damage.
warumonoqm rolls 4d6e5 = 3 3 1 2 → 0 successes against 5
Hua Yin dodges.
Droopy is injured and takes a -2 malus.
Round 5
warumonoqm rolls 4d6e5 = 5⊕ 3 4 5⊕ → 2 successes against 5
warumonoqm rolls 2d6e5 = 6⊕ 3 → 1 success against 5
warumonoqm rolls 1d6e5 = 1 → 0 successes against 5
Hua Yin hits with 1 net success. Hua Yin does 5 (3 Stun + 2 Phys) damage.
Hua Yin wins the combat.
Hua Yin attack: AGL (3) + Unarmed (1)
Hua Yin receives +2 damage and +5 armor because of the Wooden Hand.
Droopy dodge: INT (??) + AGL (??) – Wooden Hand (2) = 4
Droopy attack: AGL (??) + Unarmed (??) = 4
Droopy receives +2 damage and +5 armor because of the Wooden Hand.
Round 1
warumonoqm rolls 4d6e5 = 1 5⊕ 5⊕ 6⊕ → 3 successes against 5
warumonoqm rolls 1d6e5 = 4 → 0 successes against 5
warumonoqm rolls 4d6e5 = 4 3 6⊕ 5⊕ → 2 successes against 5
warumonoqm rolls 1d6e5 = 3 → 0 successes against 5
Hua Yin hits with 1 net success. Hua Yin does 5 (3 Stun + 2 Phys) damage.
Hua Yin pierces Droopy's armor.
warumonoqm rolls 4d6e5 = 4 2 6⊕ 3 → 1 success against 5
warumonoqm rolls 1d6e5 = 3 → 0 successes against 5
warumonoqm rolls 8d6e5 = 4 1 1 1 1 6⊕ 6⊕ 3 → 2 successes against 5
Hua Yin dodges.
Round 2
warumonoqm rolls 4d6e5 = 5⊕ 2 6⊕ 6⊕ → 3 successes against 5
warumonoqm rolls 2d6e5 = 3 6⊕ → 1 success against 5
warumonoqm rolls 1d6e5 = 3 → 0 successes against 5
warumonoqm rolls 4d6e5 = 4 4 6⊕ 4 → 1 success against 5
warumonoqm rolls 1d6e5 = 6⊕ → 1 success against 5
warumonoqm rolls 1d6e5 = 5⊕ → 1 success against 5
Hua Yin hits with 1 net success. Hua Yin does 5 (3 Stun + 2 Phys) damage.
warumonoqm rolls 4d6e5 = 3 1 1 2 → 0 successes against 5
Hua Yin dodges.
Round 3
warumonoqm rolls 4d6e5 = 3 6⊕ 3 1 → 1 success against 5
warumonoqm rolls 1d6e5 = 1 → 0 successes against 5
warumonoqm rolls 4d6e5 = 2 6⊕ 3 6⊕ → 2 successes against 5
Droopy dodges.
warumonoqm rolls 4d6e5 = 5⊕ 2 2 2 → 1 success against 5
warumonoqm rolls 8d6e5 = 6⊕ 5⊕ 4 3 1 1 4 3 → 2 successes against 5
Hua Yin dodges.
Round 4
warumonoqm rolls 4d6e5 = 5⊕ 6⊕ 5⊕ 1 → 3 successes against 5
warumonoqm rolls 1d6e5 = 5⊕ → 1 success against 5
warumonoqm rolls 4d6e5 = 4 3 1 1 → 0 successes against 5
Hua Yin hits with 4 net successes. He does 8 (4 Stun + 4 Phys) damage.
warumonoqm rolls 4d6e5 = 3 3 1 2 → 0 successes against 5
Hua Yin dodges.
Droopy is injured and takes a -2 malus.
Round 5
warumonoqm rolls 4d6e5 = 5⊕ 3 4 5⊕ → 2 successes against 5
warumonoqm rolls 2d6e5 = 6⊕ 3 → 1 success against 5
warumonoqm rolls 1d6e5 = 1 → 0 successes against 5
Hua Yin hits with 1 net success. Hua Yin does 5 (3 Stun + 2 Phys) damage.
Hua Yin wins the combat.
Hua Yin and Droopy both got into their Wooden Hand stances, legs shoulder width apart, knees bent, arms up and ready to block. Hua Yin took the initiative. He stepped forward and threw a combination of straight and round punches like he had been taught. Hua Yin felt the impact as his arms slammed against Droopy's block. Droopy was thrown off his stance; he did not look as ready to receive strikes as he had just a moment before. Droopy tried to counter, but his balance was off. He whiffed as Hua Yin's feet went from planted to mobile with use of the Levin Step. Hua Yin took advantage of the other boy's mistake. Planting his feet again, Hua Yin twisted his hips and slammed his fists against Droopy's face. Droopy fell back , and Hua Yin gave him space in surprise at actually having hit somebody well. For the next few moments, they both pawed at the air, Droopy trying to catch his breath, and Hua Yin trying to judge the range for his next attack.
Hua Yin stepped forward again. With his stance solid, he threw a massive punch against Droopy that Droopy was unable to block. Droopy fell backwards, obviously injured. Hua Yin could taste victory in the air and took advantage. He hit Droopy again. Though it was not strong as his previous strike, it was more than enough as Droopy went sprawling, and Core Disciple Chu Quiang called the match.
Hua Yin felt absolute elation. He had done it. He had won a fight for the first time in his entire life. And he had done it without taking any damage. Whether that spoke more of his skill or Droopy's, he didn't care. All that mattered was the feeling of success inside of Hua Yin's chest. He looked around for his friends to share his moment with them. Gao Jin and Li Gai were both in their own matches and were not paying attention. But Guan Zhi had seen. Guan Zhi gave Hua Yin a serene smile, as if this was always meant to be.
Both Gao Jin and Li Gai congratulated him for his success after class. Gao Jin patted Hua Yin on the back so hard that Hua Yin knew the old him would have fallen to the floor. Li Gai looked pensive. One of the few things that Li Gai had been better at than Hua Yin was physical training. Now, Hua Yin was catching up.
At the end of the day, Hua Yin's victory did not really matter in the grand scheme of things. He had beaten a mortal who had not even broken through to the Initiate Realm. He had beaten someone who was almost as bad as he was in a fight. But Hua Yin did not care about any of that. He just basked in his victory.
+3 Unarmed Progression
+3 Successes to Wooden Hand Progression
-----
Talismongering class was different than Hua Yin's previous courses. When Hua Yin entered the hall, he saw a table with an assortment of items on it, including rings, a stave, and what looked like a box. The presiding Core Disciple introduced herself as Guo Xinyi. She was thick, with large arms, large legs, and a large torso. She wasn't fat. It would take an absolutely massive amount of effort for a cultivator of her level to be truly fat. No, she was just big. Her voice was booming as she said, "Welcome to intro to talismongering. I'm Guo Xinyi. I'll be your teacher. Today, we're going to go over the basics of what talismongering is.
"At its core, talismongering is turning something that is Qi-rich into something else that has an affect on the world and not just on a cultivator's body. That four-eyed poisonous toad's gall bladder? That can be incorporated into a wand that can make the toad's deadly poison available to your hands to be used against a foe. Talismongering covers the creation of a wide variety of objects." She picked up one of the rings, "Here's a storage ring, made out of spirit stones and the essence of a void wraith. There are other storage rings like it, but none with the exact combination of features." She moved onto the next item. "Here's that poison stave I was talking about, made out of pieces of a poisonous toad. Upon command, it will throw out a viscous poison that will burn through mortal flesh." She moved onto another item, "And then there's this. A good old fashioned cold box. These are made all over the Empire, and all that they require is the right spirit stones, some spirit-ink, etching tools, and a small amount of skill to make."
She looked over the class as she continued, "You're not going to get the intricacies of the talismonger's art in this class. What you will get is a general sense of what we're doing here, incorporating Qi, binding will, and creating an effect on the world. I hate being the last of the introductory classes before you're all integrated into the Broken Tree's duties. You'll all receive invitations from the various departments of the Sect once the tenth week hits. That's where you'll be making your contributions. If you don't get an invite, you'll work for the Administration and become part of the largest working group in the Broken Tree. The talismongers are the second largest. We accept the less talented, because even the less talented can be taught how to make valuable items so long as they can manipulate Qi. But that's not all we are. We also have some of the greatest artisans, blacksmiths, and calligraphers in the world working under our aegis. Not only do we create everyday items, but we also create and safeguard the Broken Tree's treasures. I hope you will join us when you get the chance.
"As part of my sell, the best performer in this class will receive some top-grade spirit-ink. Made from a cultivator's blood and spirit stones, the ink is ripe to make talisman scrolls. They'll also receive spirit paper, made from special materials. These have already been prepped to take on a binding. Some of you may not know what talisman scrolls can do. Let me show you."
She took up one of the scrolls on the table. She read from it, saying the word, "Flame." The scroll burned up and from between her hands, a stream of fire burst into the air. "Talisman scrolls are always one-use, but they can take on any number of effects. It is up to your will, your imagination, and your Qi. You never get out more than you have already put in. So it is with this class. Again, the best performers in my questioning and in the practical exam at the end of these two weeks will receive these supplies. Hopefully, they'll be able to make something amazing with them. Good luck to you all."
As Core Disciple Guo Xinyi continued to lecture, Hua Yin looked around the room. There were fewer people here than in the alchemy course or in either the cultivation or physical trainings, but more than in the medical class. He was sitting next to Guan Zhi, and nearby was Lao Ai with an especially attractive girl with charms in her hair. Tao Yangyuan, colorful as always, was in a corner as was Zhe Chao, who paid absolute attention to the lecturer with a dogged determination. Yang Genji was in the front; the girl was studiously taking notes. She was one of the only nobles in the room. The other was one of the twins, who Hua Yin could still not tell apart. And of course, throughout the room were other members of the Broken Tree that Hua Yin had not gotten to know. Most of them looked like they were already lost.
"Spirit scrolls are the easiest form of talisman to make. That is not to say it is easy, but even a cultivator of the low Initiate Realm can infuse a talisman, and a cultivator of the pinnacle Initiate Realm can bind one, albeit the binding will not last nearly as long as if it were done by someone of a higher cultivation level. The process of creating a spirit scroll is simple enough." With that, she brought out a stylus upon which was a sheet of paper. Seemingly from thin air, she retrieved a brush and an ink pot that she put on the table.
"The creation and use of spirit scrolls has three steps, each of which requires the use of Qi. I am going to loosen my control over my aura and light up my Qi flows so you can see what I'm doing." A moment later, Hua Yin felt the intense pressure that only came from a powerful Awakened. Along with it, he smelled steel, tasted fire, and heard something else that he could not quite place. Something with ink and paper and dust. Core Disciple Guo Xinyi started to glow. All around her ribbons of Qi rippled through the air, clear but visible via dint of their movement.
"Firstly, there is the binding step. I use my will, my brush, and spirit ink to imbue what I want onto the spirit paper. Observe." Hua Yin watched as the Core Disciple wrote the words "Flame Flower" in beautiful calligraphy onto the scroll. Her Qi embedded itself into the paper as she drew the characters. It felt like heat was emanating from her. "I visualize what I want and paint with my Qi what I understand the words to mean and what I want them to mean. Now that I've bound my desire onto the scroll, I need to infuse it with Qi." She put down her brush, and Hua Yin watched as the ribbons of Qi flowed into the scroll. "By doing so, I infuse the scroll, giving it the energy it needs to do its job. Remember, you do not get more out of item than you put in. It's why most Qi-based technology includes engravings that actively harvest Qi from the air. In the case of scrolls, whatever effect I'm looking for is powered by the Qi that I infused it with and that comes with the ingredients I combine to make the scroll." Once her Qi finished fusing into the scroll, turning it a bright, ruddy orange, she reined in her Qi. All of a sudden the sensation of pressure left the air. Hua Yin no longer felt phantom sensations.
"And now that I've bound and infused the scroll, it can be used." Taking it up, she intoned the words on the scroll in a clear voice. The scroll burned and, in its place appeared a lotus flower made solely of fire. It burned in the air for a moment before disappearing. "I use my Qi to activate the binding. And that's how you make and use a spirit scroll. Making other types of talismans is not so different. They all require the same stages of binding, infusing, and using, but every medium has intricacies that must be accounted for. You will learn many of those intricacies if you so choose to join us in the Talismonger's Treasury."
Towards the end of the class, Core Disciple Guo Xinyi asked for questions and asked questions of her own. Lao Ai was obviously at the lead of the class. The quiet but smart girl revealed a deep knowledge of the subject of talismongering. She and Core Disciple Guo Xinyi went off on a solid five-minute tangent about the various effects of spirit beast blood on the etchings of artifacts. Hua Yin lost the lede in less than two minutes. Tao Yangyuan stood up to her questioning well, and so did Yang Genji. Hua Yin was not surprised. They had both excelled in the other courses. Zhe Chao also did well. Every time they got an answer correct, they would shoot a venomous glance at Hua Yin. Hua Yin didn't understand why there was so much animosity there, but honestly, he was getting annoyed at Zhe Chao too. It got aggravating being glared at all the time.
INT (6) + Knowledge: Crafting (0) + 1 (Copious Notes). Hua Yin takes a -1 penalty.
Hua Yin rolls 6 against TN 4 (Top of the Class).
warumonoqm rolls 6d6e5 = 5⊕ 1 6⊕ 1 4 5⊕ → 3 successes against 5
warumonoqm rolls 1d6e5 = 4 → 0 successes against 5
Hua Yin rolls 6 against TN 4 (Top of the Class).
warumonoqm rolls 6d6e5 = 5⊕ 1 6⊕ 1 4 5⊕ → 3 successes against 5
warumonoqm rolls 1d6e5 = 4 → 0 successes against 5
Hua Yin did not do badly, but he was also not excellent. Like everyone else in the class, he was in Lao Ai's shadow. He consoled himself with the thought that he did about as well as Zhe Chao did.
+1 Successes to Craft Progression.
+3 Successes to Knowledge: Crafting Progression.
----
Gao Jin dodged and then drove a fist deep into Hua Yin's ribs. The wind was forcibly pushed from Hua Yin's body, and he staggered backwards with an oof. "Be more ready," Gao Jin said sternly. "You know my style. I'm comin' in hard. You can't pussyfoot around. Throw or dodge. Don't hesitate."
"Gratitude," Hua Yin said, though it was hard to feel gratitude after getting punched.
Gao Jin didn't talk about much. He generally didn't talk much. But during these training sessions, Gao Jin spoke more than he normally did. Gao Jin had a keen eye for combat. Maybe not as sharp as Guan Zhi's but definitely an eye that was significantly more astute than Hua Yin's. He turned all of that attention on Hua Yin.
Gao Jin motioned for Hua Yin to come forward again. Getting back into his Wooden Hand stance, Hua Yin obliged. Twisting his hips like a branch in the wind, Hua Yin threw a combination of punches at the other boy. Gao Jin blocked each one and then proceeded to kick Hua Yin in the leg. Hua Yin grabbed it in pain.
"Stop. How are you going to fight Mo Xiang if you're going to curl up after one shot?"
Hua Yin did not know how Gao Jin knew how badly he wanted to defeat Mo Xiang. He hadn't ever vocalized it. But Gao Jin was his friend, and the gruff gangster was more observant than anyone, including Hua Yin, gave him credit for. Hua Yin winced once more but then got back into stance. Gao Jin started the action this time around. Gao Jin came forward with a massively telegraphed overhand punch that Hua Yin managed to catch on his upraised arms. Hua Yin knew he would have a bruise the next day. Gao Jin's already impressive strength had only grown after his cultivation advancements.
"Good block. Now do it again." And again and again. Gao Jin rained punches on the slighter Hua Yin. But Hua Yin knew each punch was slower than it could've been, just that much weaker. Hua Yin was grateful that his friend was taking it easy on him. Thankfully, Gao Jin never decided to use the hatchet that he occasionally carried along with him.
INT (6) + AGL (3) +1 Friend's Training + 2 (Never Again) -2 (Split Time) = 10.
warumonoqm rolls 10d6e5 = 5⊕ 3 2 2 6⊕ 5⊕ 6⊕ 1 2 5⊕ → 5 successes against 5
warumonoqm rolls 2d6e5 = 4 4 → 0 successes against 5
Hua Yin receives 5 successes.
warumonoqm rolls 10d6e5 = 5⊕ 3 2 2 6⊕ 5⊕ 6⊕ 1 2 5⊕ → 5 successes against 5
warumonoqm rolls 2d6e5 = 4 4 → 0 successes against 5
Hua Yin receives 5 successes.
Having a friend's help was useful. Hua Yin could feel himself making strides. Away from the training fields, Hua Yin felt less pressure to look passable and could focus that attention on being passable instead. Gao Jin's tough talk and tougher method of teaching also helped cement the lessons into Hua Yin's body.
In exchange for the combat training, Hua Yin helped Gao Jin with his reading. As difficult of a taskmaster as Gao Jin was when it came to fighting, Hua Yin was just as bad when it came to reading. Hua Yin constantly quizzed Gao Jin on different characters and made him re-read passages from their cultivator novels to make sure he both had an understanding of what the word meant and how to pronounce it. It was an arduous task. Like Gao Jin could not quite understand how Hua Yin could be so bad at fighting, Hua Yin could not quite understand how Gao Jin did not do so well at reading.
But they were both patient with one another, which is what mattered. They helped each other to do better. By the end of the week, they were on the last of Hua Yin's cultivator novels, and Gao Jin was reading the, admittedly simple, text with barely any pauses or stuttering.
"Now, we proceed to textbooks!"
Gao Jin groaned.
+5 Successes to Unarmed Progression.
----
Every time that Hua Yin went to the Archives, he was impressed. It really was a grand building. Its entrance was decorated with bas relief sculptures of the great deeds of cultivators that had come before. The inside was equally grand, all old wood, carved stone, and flameless light. Hua Yin felt history here. The Broken Tree had been around for millennia, and one could feel it when entering the Archives. Upon going inside, Hua Yin once again felt Qi batting at his senses.
Hua Yin went up to the attendant at the front desk. It was Inner Disciple Peng again. The mustachioed man with a red rope necklace smiled at Hua Yin in greeting. "Welcome back junior. Can I help you with something?"
Hua Yin nodded. "Gratitude senior. I was hoping to be pointed towards where I could find some manuals on cultivation techniques."
Inner Disciple Peng got a shrewd look on his face, "Trying to find something better than the Yearning huh? Well, I can help with that. It won't even cost you anything. This time anyways, unless you're looking for something specific. Down the hall five stacks, take a left, walk to the wall and take a right. The entire shelf in front of you will be the beginner cultivation techniques. Obviously they're not the best, the good stuff is in the Technique Repositories, but it should get you started on your research. Next time you ask for help though, bring a Boon."
Hua Yin followed the directions exactly. Again, he marveled at the sense of Qi emanating from the back of the Archives. He wondered what that was back there exuded so much Qi. Maybe it was a Font. Maybe it was some especially powerful talismans. Either way, his curiosity was piqued. However, he did not scratch that itch, because he knew he would not be allowed back there.
Reaching the correct shelves, he perused the available titles. There was a decent selection of options. Enough to fill three rows on one of the shelves. Scanning through them, he used all of the knowledge that he gained in his cultivation training to pick ones that would fit the Kiss of Tribulation. His knowledge of cultivation techniques was still basic, so he could only understand so much of the flowery language within the books, but he believed he got enough to get a sense of at least the beginner levels of the techniques.
INT (6) + Knowledge: Cultivation (1) = 7
warumonoqm rolls 7d6e5 = 5⊕ 4 1 4 5⊕ 3 1 → 2 successes against 5
Hua Yin receives 2 successes.
warumonoqm rolls 7d6e5 = 5⊕ 4 1 4 5⊕ 3 1 → 2 successes against 5
Hua Yin receives 2 successes.
Among the options, the best of his choices were:
[ ] The Midnight Visitation: An introductory cultivation technique that focuses on soaking on re-cycling Qi in the air to get the maximum amount of benefit out of the minimum amount of Qi. At first level, reroll 2 dice on a cultivation roll.
[ ] Breath of the Storm: An introductory cultivation technique requiring deep breathing similar to the howl of air in a storm. At first level, trade 2 cultivation dice for 1 guaranteed cultivation training success.
Whatever he decided on picking, he would have to pay a silver to have the book copied for his personal use.
----
warumonoqm rolls 12d6e5 = 2 6⊕ 6⊕ 4 3 5⊕ 1 3 2 5⊕ 4 1 → 4 successes against 5
warumonoqm rolls 2d6e5 = 2 2 → 0 successes against 5
Hua Yin receives 4 successes.
warumonoqm rolls 2d6e5 = 2 2 → 0 successes against 5
Hua Yin receives 4 successes.
In the middle of the week, something strange happened. As Hua Yin was walking back from the Archives, his perceptive ears heard crying. He didn't recognize the voice immediately, but he was curious, so he followed the sound.
Behind one of the dormitories, he saw Song Chyou and the spirit-blooded boy with the slit eyes and sharp teeth. He was standing across Song Chyou as she cried. He just looked at her as if she were an alien.
What does Hua Yin do?
[ ] Run to the rescue. Song Chyou might not be one of Hua Yin's good friends, but she was good people and the spirit-blooded boy had obviously done something to her.
[ ] Observe surreptitiously. Hua Yin didn't have to act. He could just see what was going on. Sure, he knew Song Chyou but he didn't know her well enough to interfere with her problems. This will require a Sneak roll and will thereby also look snearky.
[ ] Leave. This is none of Hua Yin's business.
[ ] Write-in.
----
Please vote for both a choice of cultivation technique and for reaction to Song Chyou's crying.
Last edited:
[X] Breath of the Storm: An introductory cultivation technique requiring deep breathing similar to the howl of air in a storm. At first level, trade 2 cultivation dice for 1 guaranteed cultivation training success.
Weaker to start, but likely to work with the Kiss as it evolves.
[X] Run to the rescue. Song Chyou might not be one of Hua Yin's good friends, but she was good people and the spirit-blooded boy had obviously done something to her.
Open to a good write-in.
Weaker to start, but likely to work with the Kiss as it evolves.
[X] Run to the rescue. Song Chyou might not be one of Hua Yin's good friends, but she was good people and the spirit-blooded boy had obviously done something to her.
Open to a good write-in.
Last edited:
- Location
- The Star Kingdom of Manticore
I am in favor of breath of the storm. Our dice have been mean to us, so let's be mean to them.
On a more serious note we have a Qi rich environment to practice on so we have dice to spend.
On a more serious note we have a Qi rich environment to practice on so we have dice to spend.
[X] Breath of the Storm: An introductory cultivation technique requiring deep breathing similar to the howl of air in a storm. At first level, trade 2 cultivation dice for 1 guaranteed cultivation training success.
TimEd
Meteor maker
Ah, here's how to ensure the dice doesn't screw us. Just go for the sure win instead.
Here, I think a Write In is best. Something like walking up to them and asking what the hell is going on, but politely.
CedeTheBees
Probably high right now
- Location
- Somewhere
- Pronouns
- They/Them
[X] The Midnight Visitation: An introductory cultivation technique that focuses on soaking on re-cycling Qi in the air to get the maximum amount of benefit out of the minimum amount of Qi. At first level, reroll 2 dice on a cultivation roll.
I do like rerolls. 2 possible successes > 1 guaranteed success
More dice means we're likely to gey more successes, not to mention more chances at dice explosions.
Definitely feels like the more likely thing Hua Yin would pick. And I just like the description a lot better. Storms are overrated. Recycling is where it's at
[X] Walk to the rescue. Something has obviously happened, but you don't know what yet. Greet the both of them and inquire as to the situation here.
I do like rerolls. 2 possible successes > 1 guaranteed success
More dice means we're likely to gey more successes, not to mention more chances at dice explosions.
Definitely feels like the more likely thing Hua Yin would pick. And I just like the description a lot better. Storms are overrated. Recycling is where it's at
I like it. Still being a decent friend without going full "I AM HERE".
[X] Walk to the rescue. Something has obviously happened, but you don't know what yet. Greet the both of them and inquire as to the situation here.
Last edited:
DangerKitty
shoddy writter
- Location
- lala land
[X] Breath of the Storm: An introductory cultivation technique requiring deep breathing similar to the howl of air in a storm. At first level, trade 2 cultivation dice for 1 guaranteed cultivation training success.
I prefer steady progress and it seem more likely to progress to something lightning related.
[X] Run to the rescue. Song Chyou might not be one of Hua Yin's good friends, but she was good people and the spirit-blooded boy had obviously done something to her.
Open to a write in. Same as others.
I prefer steady progress and it seem more likely to progress to something lightning related.
[X] Run to the rescue. Song Chyou might not be one of Hua Yin's good friends, but she was good people and the spirit-blooded boy had obviously done something to her.
Open to a write in. Same as others.
MagnificentMind
To Live is to Suffer
[X] Breath of the Storm: An introductory cultivation technique requiring deep breathing similar to the howl of air in a storm. At first level, trade 2 cultivation dice for 1 guaranteed cultivation training success.
With how poor our rolls are in general having a guaranteed success seems like a much better option that rerolls
[X] Run to the rescue. Song Chyou might not be one of Hua Yin's good friends, but she was good people and the spirit-blooded boy had obviously done something to her.
Not much for being a hero, but this seems to be IC for Hua Yin and its always good to have another friend
With how poor our rolls are in general having a guaranteed success seems like a much better option that rerolls
[X] Run to the rescue. Song Chyou might not be one of Hua Yin's good friends, but she was good people and the spirit-blooded boy had obviously done something to her.
Not much for being a hero, but this seems to be IC for Hua Yin and its always good to have another friend
[X] Breath of the Storm: An introductory cultivation technique requiring deep breathing similar to the howl of air in a storm. At first level, trade 2 cultivation dice for 1 guaranteed cultivation training success.
[X] Run to the rescue. Song Chyou might not be one of Hua Yin's good friends, but she was good people and the spirit-blooded boy had obviously done something to her.
[X] Run to the rescue. Song Chyou might not be one of Hua Yin's good friends, but she was good people and the spirit-blooded boy had obviously done something to her.