*comment REMOVE *save_checkpoint *temp val 0 *temp bingo 0 *temp tmpunderlings 0 *temp tigerhurt 0 *temp tigerusedroc false *temp barfight 0 *temp innlizardknocked false *temp innlizardthrown false *temp purplepoints 0 *temp wasadicktodes false *temp chosewoods false *temp leonadmg 0 *temp pelt 0 *temp firsttime true *temp toldname false *temp memhaggled false *temp mentionedclan false *temp memdrank false *temp workfordou 1 *temp conversion 0 *temp deskiss false *temp purpleside false *temp goldside false *temp alchbanned false *set chapter 4 *if (heshe = bffheshe) *set bffromance 0 *comment workfordou 1 = worked for the caravan, 2 = managed the caravan, 3 = don't go, 4 = caught stealing *if (sonarmode) [b][Chapter 4][/b] *else *image https://www.auraclash.com/assets/img/ap-chapter-four.png [b][i]In which stars cross paths,[/i][/b] *line_break [b][i]The enemy rears its head,[/i][/b] *line_break [b][i]And all eyes turn to the West.[/i][/b] The scales of fortune never balance. For every step forward one mortal takes there are those who can take two with the same effort. Yet the growth of experience is the death of doubt. No longer do you question if you compare to your peers. Now you question if they can compare to you. *page_break *gosub_scene quicks timepass *set tmpunderlings underlings *set underlings 0 Lush green woods and massive karst-rock towers flank your winding path until you leave the mountains in which you've lived all your life. When you were told the march to Nanhou was a month-long journey you assumed that was for powerless mortals. You were wrong. It's a month-long march taking into account the fact that a fast Martial Artist should be able to keep marching through at least one night. You've made it for two nights in a row so far without rest. [b][1 Chi Point Spent][/b] *set chispent + 1 The exhaustion is mounting up when you come upon a roadside gated inn and sigh with relief. Sleeping on a mattress sounds so tempting beyond belief, assuming you can find a room. These roads have been anything but empty. The directions on the back of the Heavenly Ascension Trials invitation say the event is being hosted in the western coastal town of Nanhou. The mountains of your village, located in the center of your province, completely bisect your region so there's no way around them. As a result travelers from the eastern half have come through Thunderfall's safe roads on their way to the Trials and that's put thousands of visitors on the same dirt roads as you. At first you thought it wouldn't be a problem, you can outpace the oxen-drawn carts and bumbling peasantry. Then it dawned on you that massive crowds had left long before you started your journey. The path ahead of you is already full. Rather than a solitary hero's journey you've been following a crowded pilgrimage with constant cart-drivers providing obstacle courses on thin forest roads. If you walk at their pace you'll never make it in time so you're weaving through crowds and thick trees all day long instead of enjoying the flat dirt roads in peace. You've passed more than a handful of equally irritated travelers saying they'd offer their firstborn for a shred of personal space. It's hard to disagree. Life would be easier if you knew a shortcut but you've never been to Nanhou. It's some shipyard town, you think. The only information your fellow Thunderfall disciples ever told you about Nanhou is a slew of mocking insults at its Waverunner Sect. You suspected they may be your rivals, though you always thought your town's rival was the Sunbringer Sect to the east. Maybe Mao just picks fights and every Sect is your rival. Speaking of other Sects, you can sense power up ahead. A buzz in the air warning you of the condensed chi that only comes from combat auras. It's coming from the inn. Damn it. You're too tired for this. You pass a half dozen more travelers before reaching the inn's unguarded gate as the warm glow of the sunset illuminates the inn's grounds. Dozens of travelers surround the tavern gardens and koi ponds. Mumbles fill the air warning of high tensions inside. Entering the inn could provide a solid respite. It could also introduce trouble from whoever is inside. Camping in the woods is always a possibility instead, assuming you can avoid any dangers that may bring. Your hesitation to act comes with a cost: an ox leading a cart behind you takes a steaming dump by your shoes while you consider your options. You wince at the smell and curse these busy roads. In the end you decide to... *choice #Rest at the inn. Both heavy doors to the inn open just before your hand reaches them and a stream of patrons rush out. You quickly see why. The wide hall of the inn's bottom floor is filled with tables and chairs covered in recently abandoned meals. The stairs leading up to the private rooms shows signs of spilled drinks from customers fleeing the only other attraction in the room: seven Martial Artists. Four fighters in gold combat gi are shoving back three fighters in purple combat gi. The apparent leader of the gold disciples is a lizard yokai that you sense to be stronger than the rest, a man with a top-knot and green reptilian eyes. *if (portraitpics) *image https://www.auraclash.com/assets/img/guiren.jpg The lizard yokai speaks up while shoving back another purple disciple. "There goes your witnesses, so pay up or we'll take the price out of your hide. The Boss is done waiting." "I told you we don't have the money!" Protests a man in purple gi and you recognize him as one of Desdemona's disciples from the tavern. "The Trials are coming up, if we pass the finals we can pay you double!" An oni in gold hisses at that, "We don't give a damn about after the Trials, fool! We want the money [b]for[/b] the Trials! You borrowed something valuable, you owe money, now pay up!" A golden fog fills the bottom of the tavern hall, just up to your feet, but the others don't react, as if they somehow missed it. "We owe you nothing." says a familiar voice. You look up at the stairs and see its source. *page_break *if (portraitpics) *image https://www.auraclash.com/assets/img/gothgf.jpg Lady Desdemona. A black belt adorns her midsection, barely visible over her dark purple robes. "If you were strong enough you would have seized your 'debt' already. If you were smart enough you would have stolen it while I slumbered. You're neither. You're trash. Begone." A black glow surrounds her fingers as she weaves some sort of handseal casting *if (handseals >= 2) of great complexity, but you're still able to understand it. [b][Handseals 2 Check Passed][/b] *line_break *set val round(handseals * 1.5) *set solexp + val *set val 0 She's casting a ward on the doorway so no one can enter...or leave. *else too complex for you to understand. In response the gold Sect disciples all flare their auras up to full power. You wince at their combined might and try to remind yourself that each should only be a quarter of that strength, but the shock of their four combined auras so close together shakes your spiritual senses akin to hearing an explosion just one room away. It's quite clear that a fight is about to break out, four against four. *choice #"If you all start a fight I'm tipping the scales for purple." [Side with Lady Desdemona] *set desrep + 2 *label barfightchoices0 *set purpleside true *set metdesdemona 13000000000 *set metguiren 11000000000 *set fighting true All eyes turn to you. All but Desdemona. A wicked smile crosses her lips and her fingers stop executing the handseal incantation; the chi gathered on her fingertips instead flings at the gold Sect members as if she had flicked water from her hands. The result is a stream of gold and violet chi needles. The lizard yokai knocks a few away with his tail but the rest take a hit. The lizard yokai is quick to respond and runs on the walls towards Desdemona who begins a different casting, and all hell breaks loose with the three vs three fight down on the ground floor. The Oni punches one of the purple Sect members over the bar but a second purple Disciple jumps on his back and starts violently stabbing him in the shoulder with a large hairpin. A Human in gold blasts the needle out of her hand before a chair is broken over his head by a Human in purple. That same Human in purple is then grappled by the last Human in gold and slammed through a nearby table. The fight is utter chaos and the two leaders haven't even clashed yet. *label barfightchoices *choice *disable_reuse #Charge the lizard yokai. Gold team's leader is faster, faster than you. He's running in serpentine patterns across the walls and throwing some sort of toxic chi globs at Desdemona. There's no way you can run up to him with his swift agility, so you don't. You jump. Chi flows through your calves and quadricep muscles in a cycling pattern, surging more and more power into them until you take off like a firework through the air. One moment you're crouching on the ground by the doorway, and the next- *if (innlizardknocked) *set val 6 *else *set val 5 *set combatstat "power" *set combatskill "athletics" *set combatdiff val *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) You're pinning the lizard Yokai against the wall with your fist on the far side of the tavern's dining room. Blood spews from his mouth instead of any sort of scream but you feel his Fortitude Cores surge to recover. He turns to you and with a fanged snarl that swiftly changes to a look of panic when you grab his tail in both hands before your feet event hit the wall, giving you leverage to lift him overhead by the tail and throw him to the ground where a table covered in glasses breaks his fall. *set purplepoints + 1 *page_break The cloud of dust, splinters, and glass shards erupts around the impact site where you threw the lizard yokai into the ground. You turn to the Desdemona who's staring at you with an open mouth, eyebrows screwed up in confusion and astonishment. *set desrep + 3 Your spiritual senses scream at you just in time for you to notice a green glow in the debris cloud. "DIE YOU PIECE OF SHIT!" Shouts the lizard yokai from the ground. A green toxic energy blast the size of your entire body launches from inside the cloud of debris, and unlike him you can't run on walls to dodge. *set combatstat "soul" *set combatdiff 4 *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) With just enough time you pull together your internal chi and place two hands out, palms up, and blow up the gold-clad yokai's attack with your own two-handed ${auracolor} blast of life energy. You kick off the wall to get some distance from the cloud and get your bearings at the same time that Desdemona charges in after him, one hand glowing violet and the other glowing gold. *if (barfight = 0) She should have it from here, but here Disciples not so much. That's why you... *else You pull together your own internal chi to deflect the attack but his is too fast. The green chi bomb crashes into you and bursts *if (eblocktech != "") into a cloud of acidic energy, *else your skin open in small wounds all over your body, sending you flying into the ceiling and then falling to the ground. *gosub_scene quicks woundcheck 2 false true *if (barfight = 0) This battle's not over however, and thankfully Desdemona closes the gap into the debris cloud with one hand glowing violet and the other glowing gold. You've got a breather to pick your next target. *set innlizardthrown true *else You're halfway through the air in an impressive display that just doesn't measure up. His speed is too much. You even lose track of him just before a body-sized chi blast of green toxic power slams into you in midair, launched from behind. *if (eblocktech = "") It bursts your skin open in small wounds all over your body as if you'd been covered in boiling water. *gosub_scene quicks woundcheck 2 false true *if (barfight = 0) The attack blasts you back into the floor but you're not done yet. You get up in time to look around and survey your options from the battle raging around you. *else The attack rockets you into the floor hard so hard that you're convinced you land in the basement. There's no basement. You're embedded into the ground. *if not (innlizardthrown) *disable_reuse #Shoot the lizard yokai with a layered energy blast. The gold Sect's leader is fast, very fast, and you doubt melee combat is the best response to that. You have a better idea. Desdemona and the lizard Yokai have been clashing around the stairs, floor, and walls. As the lizard Yokai runs up another wall of the tavern and throws green energy blasts at Desdemona you adopt a wide stance and begin to layer ${auracolor} light between your palms, pulled back to steady your attack. The two of them meet in the air and match kicks against each other, knocking them back. You add another layer. They both charge two energy blasts and throw them at each other, dodging in kind. You add another layer. Desdemona's hands glow violet and gold and she leaps at lizard Yokai but he spins in the air to kick her away. That's your chance! The counterbalance of his kick leaves him hanging in mid-air where his speed means nothing. You unleash your charged blast directly at his torso. *set combatstat "soul" *set combatstat2 "agility" *set combatdiff 7 *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) *set purplepoints + 1 [b]BOOM![/b] Your energy attack fires out like a cannon and connects directly with the gold Sect leader, bowling him into the wall like he'd been struck by an ox. He actually has to pull himself out of the crater you formed in the wall and there's visible blood stains showing in the hole of his gi that you left on his chest. "INTERLOPER!" He screams through pained breaths, tail lashing. "You'll pay for that!" He kicks off the wall at incredible speed to get to you and gets hit with another energy blast from Desdemona who's made it back to the top of the stairs. *set innlizardknocked true "Turn your back on me if you want to die." She says, "I'm not done with you." She crosses her arms and fuels her aura with more chi until it grows to the ceiling. *if (barfight = 0) He spits and charges up the stairs at her, giving you time to... *else Oh crap, the tail! His tail whips with an unnaturally loud crack that sends him spinning and he uses that momentum to spinkick your chi blast back at you. The layered attack slams into you like a cannon, sending you into a crater in the floor that stretches six feet long and three feet across. *gosub_scene quicks woundcheck 2 false false You barely pull yourself out of the wood that melded around your *if (barfight = 0) body and survey the fight. That blast hit hard, almost too hard, but the fight's not over yet. *else body. *disable_reuse #Choke out one of the lesser gold Sect members from behind. A chokehold doesn't require as much strength as other attacks in the world of Martial Arts. Anyone within the same Aura Pressure bracket can choke each other out assuming the defender doesn't have some Technique to negate it. The problem is surviving the counterattacks. You charge into the melee between the lesser gold and purple disciples and grab one of the gold-clad Humans from behind, encircling his neck with one arm and then grabbing your own bicep to lock them into a choke. His response is immediate. *set combatstat "fortitude" *set combatskill "stealth" *set combatdiff 5 *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) And useless. You can feel the panic in his pulse when they realize they've been caught and aren't going to make it. They flail and flail with elbows, kicks, even a poorly executed energy blast to your face, but your body is too tough and your choke execution was too clean. His attacks grow weaker and weaker, and his allies can't come to save them now that they're outnumbered. In mere seconds his arms hang to his side and his flaring aura weakens until it stops entirely. *set purplepoints + 1 *choice #Find a new target, this battle's not over. *set ruthless - 1 *goto barfightpoints #Find a new target, there's no honor in killing a defeated opponent. *set honor + 2 *goto barfightpoints #Break his neck. *set ruthless + 5 *set desrep + 5 *set guirenrep - 10 *set metguiren + 100000000 With a quick snap you crack your target's neck and end his miserable life. It's easier than you thought. Without an active aura his Combat Cores can't fuel his body's defenses. *set apval 5 *gosub_scene quicks apboost His body drops to the ground and his head hits a table on the way down with a loud thud. All eyes turn to you, sensing the snuffing of a lifeforce within the room. "Oh my god, ${heshe} killed Kennui!" Shouts the Oni. *set guirencombat + 1 "YOU BASTARD!" Screams the lizard Yokai, kicking the Gothic woman across the room with a ranged explosion of force and charging at you with seething fury. *goto innfightend *else And painful. The man's elbows jab into your kidneys. His boots scrape skin off your shins, and as a finale his hands both reach out to grab your head behind him and release two scalding hot chi blasts into your ears that feel like someone's poured boiling water into your skull. *gosub_scene quicks woundcheck 1 false false You let go and shrink back just as a disciple of the purple sect divebombs your target from off a table. *if (barfight = 0) You've got a chance to catch your breath and evaluate the battlefield. *disable_reuse #Throw improvised weapons into the large brawl. If there's one weapon in abundance around here it's glass. From experience you know that being a Martial Artist at your level is actually worse for glass attacks. Your skin has hardened enough that the glass [i]will[/i] break on impact but most of the time it's not hard enough to stop the small shards from sinking in. It was agonizing when you stepped on a glass last year when Rin left one on the floor. So you decide to agonize others. You run to each table one by one and pick up any plates or mugs and throw them at the gold-clad disciples. *set combatstat "agility" *set combatskill "perception" *set combatdiff 5 *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) The first table's set of glasses soar through the air and find their mark on a gold Sect Human's face. The second set of glasses fly through the air and find their mark on the Oni's face. A few you throw at the lizard Yokai to imbalance him while he tries to dodge energy blasts from the Lungargoth woman. Then you get to the bar where dozens of glasses, plates, and silverware are at your disposal. You pick one of the humans as a target and begin to throw. One, two, three embed themselves into their skin when they shatter. Faster. Four, five, six, eight, ten. Your body begins to glow. [i]Faster.[/i] Fifteen, twenty, twenty five, thirty. Your arms start to blur in a glowing haze of ${auracolor}. [i][b]FASTER![/b][/i] Even the projectiles you throw glow like ${auracolor} shooting stars as they slam into the gold Sect disciple, a handful slamming into them per second, so fast that their trajectory follows the disciple's movements even as they fall to the ground. Finally you run out of glasses and your target has run out of stamina. They stay on the ground, covered in cuts and barely breathing. *if (barfight = 0) The battle rages on around you and you move on to... *else The first few fly through the air without difficulty and shatter against the gold Sect disciple's outfits but the more you throw the worse your accuracy gets. You get too heated trying to keep up and fail to restrict your strength well enough, shattering two mugs in each hand and causing your own hands to bleed with a dozen small gashes from the shattered glass. One of them even cut your wrist when it exploded in your hand and boy is that a lot of blood. *gosub_scene quicks woundcheck 1 false false You wrap your hands in a tablecloth for now and hope no one saw that. *if (barfight = 0) Luckily both sides are busy with their fight so you decide to... *disable_reuse *selectable_if (handseals >= 1) #Seize Desdemona's abandoned ritual to form a barrier in the fight. That ritual Desdemona was casting would've formed a barrier over the doorway, but the gold-clad sect isn't paying attention to you. You could form it directly into the fight to turn the tide. With a concentration of will you pick up where the woman left off, seizing control of the energy in the mist that covers the inn's floor and leashing your own power to the fading ritual before it can dissipate. The chi answers your call and hangs in the air, ready to mold the misty chi into a solid barrier with just one more command. Now to pick a target...there! The Oni from before is holding one of the purple disciples by the skull and rearing his head back for a vicious headbutt. With a last handseal sign you execute the ritual and form an invisible plate-sized barrier over the purple disciple's face just as the Oni's head comes down like an anvil. *set combatstat "soul" *set combatskill "handseals" *set combatdiff 5 *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) You wince as the Oni's face splatters against your barrier. Blood and teeth launch to the sides with a sickening crunch. He drops to the ground with ragged breaths and his intended victim looks around in astonishment until she sees you and smiles. *if (ruthless <= 50) You wave. *else You shake your head at her weakness. *if (barfight = 0) This battle isn't over yet however. She launches a light energy blast at another disciple who was charging at you from behind then runs to engage him, giving you time to... *else She launches a golden energy beam over your shoulder that strikes another gold-clad Martial Artist in the chest before he can reach you. *else You wince as the barrier shatters and the Oni's headbutt connects to the girl's face. She passes out instantly and you feel a sharp pain in your side as one of the other gold disciples uses the distraction to stab you from behind with a broken bottle. *gosub_scene quicks woundcheck 1 true false *if (pblocktech != "") Luckily you've come prepared for such weak physical attacks and *else A scream of pain and rage escapes your lips and you elbow the mook in the face, hard. *if (barfight = 0) Hard enough to send them flying so you have time to... *label barfightpoints *if (barfight = 0) *set barfight + 1 *goto barfightchoices *else *label innfightend *page_break "ENOUGH!" The whole room shakes with a booming voice from...Huh...where [i]did[/i] it come from? *if (perception >= 1) [b][Perception 1 Check Passed][/b] *line_break *set apval 4 *gosub_scene quicks apboost You've heard the voice of everyone in this room during the fight. It wasn't one of them. You know it. Yet no one else has entered, and you're positive that booming command came from the very center of the room. Something is wrong. Then your spiritual senses shut off automatically. They aren't deactivated, rather they overload and your mind stops sensing chi instinctively to avoid damaging your soul, similar to a noise so loud that it can cause you to go deaf. Something is [i]very[/i] wrong. "YOU DISHONOR ME, GUIREN." Shouts the voice, shaking the room so hard that glasses bounce off tables. "Not me, Boss! An interloper!" The lizard Yokai, Guiren apparently, screams out, "It's not my fault! I couldn't have predicted it!" "THEN YOU ARE A FOOL! *if ({metguiren#3} = 1) ONE OF YOUR UNDERLINGS LIES DEAD WHILE YOU STRUGGLE AGAINST A COMMON WITCH. *else BETTER PREY HAS PASSED YOUR LOCATION WHILE YOU WASTE TIME AGAINST A COMMON WITCH. I AM [b]BEYOND DISPLEASED[/b]." "It's no problem Boss, I can fix this!" Guiren starts to sweat and stare wildly at the ceiling, "I always fix it! Just give me a chan-" With an audible pop, every disciple in gold disappears from the room. *page_break What the Hells? The fight is over, though not on your terms. *gosub_scene quicks fightexp Two of Desdemona's disciples get up from the ground with concerning wounds but it looks like they'll survive. None of you rush to tend to their injuries. Not even themselves. Instead eerie silence fills the room as you all process what just happened. Finally you speak up first. "What the Hells was that?" "Bossrozal, their benefactor." says Desdemona from the top of the stairs. "An ascended being if the rumors are true, which means everyone in this room is going to die." She descends the stairs slowly until she reaches the bottom and gets in your face. "But that's tomorrow's problem. Today's problem is why you got involved in my business. Have you been following me?" "Got involved-? I saved you!" "Yes, you did." She jabs an accusatory finger at your chest. "Why?" *set fighting false *choice #"Because it's the right thing to do?" *set ruthless - 2 "Because it's the right thing to do?" You say in confusion. The answer is obvious, everyone knows it. Does her head have a screw loose? She snorts dismissively, looking downcast at her Disciples and back to you. "It's the right...Are you serious? It was a debt collection. Are you going to fight every debt collector in Imperial Rasen the second you see them?" "Probably." You reply. "Wouldn't you?" *if (ruthless < 45) *set desrep + 3 *set desromance + 1 *if (bodytype = "Handsome") *set desromance + 1 Her mouth opens but no words come out, she simply squints at you incredulously. *goto dessystareback #"I saw a chance to earn allies and I took it." "I saw a chance to earn allies and I took it." "So you hope to get me into your debt?" She asks, pursing her lips and glaring into your eyes. *if (honor < 50) [b][Honor Check Failed][/b] *set desrep + 2 *line_break "I mean...Aren't you in my debt already? I did save your butt." "I was in Guiren's debt too," she says with an upturned lip, "look how that worked for him." Your eyes involuntarily roll in their sockets. "Wow, normally you'd have to surge an Agility Core to get off on the wrong foot that fast." Her only response is a scowl. *goto dessystareback *else [b][Honor Check Passed][/b] *set desrep + 7 *set powexp + 2 *set solexp + 3 *line_break "Not if you only see the world through debts. That kind of alliance sounds like an awful deal." "I...Ancestors you're serious?" She opens her mouth with a mocking sneer, shaking her head in disbelief, but stops and looks into your eyes, scrutinizingly, as if searching for something. Finally she backs down and takes a single step backwards. "It does sound like a bad deal." She agrees, then to your surprise she gives a short bow. "I apologize for my accusations. I want to..." She struggles to say the next words, "Thank...you." One of the women in purple gi walks up and places a hand on Desdemona's shoulder. #"I have to fight strong people to grow stronger. They seemed like a better workout than your pitiful disciples." "I have to fight strong people to grow stronger. They seemed like a better workout than your pitiful disciples." *set desrep - 2 *set ruthless + 3 *set wasadicktodes true "Wha-" She takes a step back aghast, recovers her posture mid-step, and slaps you across the face. "How dare you?!" "How dare I what, save you?" Your gesture to her defeated allies, "It was a close fight after I joined your side. If I joined theirs it would have been over in an instant and I'd have gained nothing." "So that's the kind of ${manwoman} you are, just looking for rewards and mocking everyone around you." "Yes, *if (heshe = "he") woman, it's called being a Martial Artist. You should try it some time. Maybe then I wouldn't have to save you." She scowls at you, nothing new since that seems to be her resting expression, and then her dark lips curl into a wicked smile. "You know what, I'm glad you just picked a fight with Guiren's master. You deserve what he's going to do to you." You roll your eyes. "Yeah yeah, Heavens forbid I be rude and tell the truth. What's the deal with those guys anyway?" "You'll find out." Is all the Gothic woman says until the younger of the purple clad disciples speaks up. "Dessy, we should at least tell him our story. He's an honorless bastard but he saved our lives. He deserves to know what he walked into." *goto destalkinn #"Honestly? I just hate Yokai." "Honestly? I just hate Yokai." *set desrep + 3 "That-" She snorts, slipping out of her tough facade for just a moment. "That is the worst reason I have ever heard someone say out loud. You really saved us out of some sort of *if ((race = "Yokai") or (race = "Kitsune")) self-hatred?" *else hatred?" *choice #"One hundred percent." "One hundred percent." You say with certainty. Fuck *if (race = "Yokai") (other) Yokai. *set desrep - 2 "That's unfortunate. Two of my captured friends are Yokai. One's even a lizard like Guiren." "Captured?" You ask. She freezes and simply stares at you, eyes slowly narrowing, as if looking for something in your eyes. *goto dessystareback #"Nah, but imagine if I did." "Nah, but imagine if I did." *set desrep + 5 *set desromance + 1 She snickers with the hint of a glint in her eyes but stops suddenly, shaking her head and placing a finger on her pursed lips as if to think. "That was a clever response. Charming even. It disarmed me from my mistrust and broke the ice too cleanly. That's exactly what an agent of Guiren's master would be trained to do to get close to me." She turns her back to you and withdraws some sort of unguent for her allies, then talks over her shoulder. "You have my thanks for saving my friends, but I can't trust a smooth talker." One of the women in purple gi walks up and places a hand on Desdemona's shoulder. *if (heshe = "he") #"I could help a debt collector or a gorgeous sorceress and you're asking as if it was a hard choice." "I could help a debt collector or a gorgeous sorceress and you're asking as if it was a hard choice." *set desrep + 2 *if ((bodytype = "Handsome") or ((persuasion + deception) >= 3)) *set desromance + 2 *set desrep + 5 "Pft, gorgeous," she mocks sarcastically, "can you not tell that most of this is makeup? Nobody should have purple lips." "Cheap paint over a masterpiece." Her eyes widen ever so slightly and for once she has nothing to say. One of the purple disciples coughs and speaks up. *else *set desromance + 1 "Oh, you're a romantic." She says coldly. "That's easy enough to deal with, I suppose." Then she just stares at you, as if sizing you up. *label dessystareback You stare back. Is this normal? Is this a Martial Arts thing? Are you both supposed to keep staring? Your prayers are answered when one of the other purple disciples interrupts you both with a cough and speaks up. "Lady Desdemona, if this is a trap then ${heshe} already knows the situation." The youngest purple disciple says, "If it's not, then ${heshe}'s earned an explanation of what ${heshe} walked into, has ${heshe} not?" *label destalkinn Desdemona brushes a strand of hair out of her face and sighs before returning to her stonewall demeanor. "Fine. You saved my Disciples so I will trust you, like a fool, for their sake. I don't believe we had proper introductions back in Sunbringer-" "-Thunderfall." You correct the woman with a horrible sense of direction. "That is what I said. Back in Thunderfall territory." She holds out one pale hand. "I am Lady Desdemona, and these are my Disciples." *choice #Nod for her to continue. You offer no name in response and nod for her to continue. She politely nods back, accepting your choice. "Where #"I go by $!{name}." [Bow politely] "I go by $!{name}." You say with a polite bow. *set honor + 2 She nods with her deadpan stare. "Pleasantries aside, $!{name}, where #"Sure thing, Dessy. The name's $!{name} by the way." "Sure thing, Dessy. The name's $!{name} by the way." *set desrep - 3 *set honor - 2 *if ((heshe = "he") and ((ruthless > 50) or (bodytype = "Handsome"))) *set desromance + 1 "Don't," She holds one finger up threateningly "Ever call me Dessy again. Now where #"${fullname}, ${patriarch} of the ${clan} Clan." Offer a handshake. "${fullname}, ${patriarch} of the ${clan} Clan." You offer her a firm handshake. *set desrep + 2 *set honor + 1 She accepts and shakes your *if (desromance > 0) hand with more cordial familiarity than you'd expect from her attitude so far. *else hand. *if not (wasadicktodes) Her tone is friendlier despite her resting scowl expression. *set desrep + 2 "Well met ${fullname}. Now where *if (heshe = "he") #"${fullname}, the pleasure is yours." Try to kiss her hand. "${fullname}, the pleasure is yours." *if (wasadicktodes) You say while leaning over to kiss her hand. *set desrep - 3 She pulls her hand back so fast you'd think she used a Technique. "What are you doing?" *if (race != "Lunargoth") "Is this not how Lunargoths say hello?" *else "Saying hello in Lunargothic tradition?" "Well say it to yourself." She says, pulling her hand back while looking down on you like you're living garbage. "I'm leaving." "Apologies Lady Desdemona," the youngest disciple protests, "we need time to treat our wounds." "Truly? But he tried to-" She stops when she gets a look at her injured Disciples' faces. "Fine. If we're stuck here then we can talk, but don't try anything funny. Our story...where *elseif ((bodytype = "Handsome") or ((persuasion + deception) >= 3)) *set desromance + 2 *set desrep + 5 You give a flourishing Gothic bow and take her hand in yours, planting a kiss on the top of her knuckles. She does absolutely nothing to stop you. When you look up into her eyes her usual scowl is still in place, yet even her white makeup can't mask the fact that she's blushing. "Lady Desdemona?" Asks the skinny man in purple. "Hm? Oh, our story. Yes. Obviously." She pulls her hand back slowly and brushes a lock of hair behind her ear. "Um...where *else You say while leaning over to kiss her hand. *set desromance + 1 She pulls her hand back with a quick apologetic smile and tries to immediately change the subject "Right, our story. Where to begin...it's a mouthful. Take a seat." She walks over to a shattered table and sits on one of the remaining chairs, crossing one leg *if (heshe = "he") slowly over the other. "I don't monologue often seeing as that habit gets people killed, so consider this a gift." She places a fuuinjutsu tag on the table and rips it in half. In a flash of smoke a full tea set rests where the paper once was. "Tea?" *choice #"Yes, please." "Yes, please." You say. She hands you a cup of lavender-infused tea without any sweeteners. It's warm and soothing to the soul. *set solexp + 1 #"No thank you." "No thank you." You reply to the steaming beverage. "Suit yourself." She says, taking a light sip and dabbing a cloth on her purple lips. *set forexp + 1 "Our Dreamriver Sect is considered a secretive and powerful coven of witches. A lie we perpetuate for safety. In truth it's only me and a few locals I decided to train." You're taken aback by such a quick confession. "But then..." "I know. Even after all my borrowed power, my Aura Pressure is around the same as your own. Calling me a Sect Master is practically a deception. But we needed that reputation to keep threats at bay. Ignorant fools who see us on our ritual hunts started calling us witches one day as an insult but we quite liked the idea. The clothes, the makeup, the moonlit castings, not to mention scaring travelers, it's been..." She struggles to say the words through her resting scowl, but manages when she meets the eyes of her fellow Sect members behind you. "It's been pleasant." The skinny man in purple gi, a Dreamriver uniform you suppose, speaks up after bandaging an ally. "But then we heard word of the Heavenly Ascension Trials and realized our folly. Everyone assumes we're a legitimate Sect. We have to attend." The youngest Dreamriver disciple cuts him off excitedly. "But we had this great idea to make it work! We'd fail out in the first few rounds and make a profit instead! Many of our rituals can help people with any sort of tasks, so why not offer them at the Trials? We'd make a fortune, and being known as mysterious witches means we can charge even more for sounding, you know, exotic. Except...our rituals don't work as well on people stronger than us..." She looks to the others. The skinny man hangs his head and tightens his fist. "And most everyone there is stronger than us, so we took out a loan." "[i]We[/i] didn't make that accursed arrangement," Desdemona says with acid in her voice, "[i]I[/i] did. I took out the loan through Guiren, I gained the power needed to offer our services to more people, and my disciples have been paying the price ever since. What you see isn't even half of our Sect. Guiren's been abducting my disciples one by one since we left home." *page_break A loan? At our level?! You stare, baffled, into her face to see if she's serious. "A loan for power..." There's been an Advancement Elixir shortage since the Trials were announced. No amount of money would make more appear, so..."By the Ancestors, you cycled SHARDS? At our Aura Pressure?! That's for toddlers and magnates! It would take thousands of Shards to see improvement at this point, just how many fortunes did you borrow?" "Not Shards," Desdemona says, annoyed, "Aura Pressure." Now it's your turn to scoff. "Nobody can just [i]lend[/i] you Aura Pressure," If it was that easy nobody would be burning through money or risking their lives. She shakes her head and her hair tumbles back in front of her face. She pushes it up with a quick huff of breath. "Nobody around here, but Guiren's master can. And now he wants us to pay him back. As in right now, just before we start making money, because it was a scam from the very beginning. They don't care about profits, they care about our failure. When we pay Bossrozal back he only gets Shards. But if we [i]fail[/i] he gets a binding right to take us as slaves instead." She looks off to the side, her voice lowering. "They already got-" "Lady Desdemona," Says the older Dreamriver woman who had been quiet up until now. "Our wounds have been treated, we need to get to Nanhou quickly. They could come back at any minute and it's the only place we'll be safe." "...Yes, you're right." Desdemona says grimly. "But we will not leave in debt." She withdraws another fuuinjutsu tag from her sleeve and rips it in half causing a notebook to appear in her hands. "I didn't see many Techniques when you fought so...here." She looks to the floor while handing you the book and a spice pouch, refusing to make eye contact. [b][Item Gained: "Energy Tide" Technique Manual][/b] *line_break [b][Item Gained: 10 Ritual Components][/b] *set ritualcomponents + 10 *if (ruthless >= 55) "Finally, a worthy reward," *else "This is incredible," You say looking at the Technique Manual in your hands. *if (honor >= 50) You can feel the power thrum through the Path Manual. "Wait, aren't Techniques from other Sects banned?" "That depends on your Sect, but you shouldn't allow someone else to get in the way of your cultivation. Anyways just take it. *else The Thunderfall Sect bans the learning of foreign Techniques but who cares? Fuck the Thunderfall Sect. "If you like it so much then our score is settled. *if (desromance >= 1) It-It's not like I care about your cultivation or anything, I just *else I don't want to owe another debt at the Trials." She nods to the others to start packing. When she gets to the door she looks back at you, her pout noticeably absent as she suddenly looks more human. "If you want to work together later, we'll be above the Southern Winds tea shop in Nanhou." She closes the door as the four of them leave together. Patrons slowly start streaming back in immediately after. You grab a bed of your choosing upstairs and fall asleep the second your head hits the pillow. The innkeeper never bothers you so either the Dreamriver disciples paid him or he's afraid of the only one left from the fight. Either way, you finally get some rest. *if not (jadedragonfoundation) *achieve witchywoman *goto innmorning #"If you two start a fight I'm tipping the scales for gold." [Side with the gold Sect] *goto sidewithgold *if (heshe = "he") #"Hello ladies, are these eunuchs giving you trouble?" [Side with Lady Desdemona] *set honor - 2 "Hello ladies, are these eunuchs giving you trouble?" *set desrep + 4 *goto barfightchoices0 #"Gentlemen, with our powers combined we could easily beat the Shards out of these women!" [Side with the gold Sect] *set honor - 2 *label sidewithgold *set metdesdemona 11000000000 *set metguiren 13000000000 *set goldside true *set guirenrep + 5 The gold Sect disciples snicker and a few of them nod over to you appreciatively. "You heard ${himher}, whore." Says the lizard Yokai. "You would've been crushed in a fair fight and now even that chance is out the window." Desdemona glares down at you from atop the stairs, nose held high and eyes piercing cold. It's as if she was looking at *if ((race = "Human") or (subrace = "Human")) human *else living garbage. "What makes you think some reject like you will be able to make a difference?" Blazing ${auracolor} chi erupts around your body in a display of your full power at ${aurapressure} Aura Pressure. You see the hope leave her eyes. You're not sure if you're stronger than her but you know you're strong enough to turn any fair fight around. She knows it too. "Tch. Fine." She says as if she were spitting out the word. She takes out some sort of glowing red crystal orb from a pouch at her side. "This is collateral, and it will help you in the Trials if you care about that so much. That's the best we can do." She throws the glowing orb at the lizard Yokai almost too fast for you to see. Almost. He catches it and holds the object up to the inn's lamplight. Presumably it's some Soul Treasure at your best guess, and he nods with a smile. "This will do nicely. I'll want the other half in Nanhou or even more of your crew are joining the Slave market." She glares daggers at him. Her Disciples look crushed as they mope towards the door, and as she passes you she whispers in your ear. "This isn't over. I'm going to crush you, body and soul." *set desrep -10 And just like that, she's gone. *page_break "Nice work!" Says the lizard Yokai, *if (heshe = "he") walking up to you and clapping you on the back. "Those filthy borrowers had been skimping on our Boss for months. Name's Dai Guiren, by the way. I appreciate you putting those women in line." "Happy to do it." You say, "For a price." "Heh, naturally. Here, most of our gear is attuned to only work for our little [i]family[/i] but we've got a few confiscated items we can part with. I'll write this off as a mercenary expense." He claps his hands twice and one of the Humans in gold combat gi rummages through his satchel and withdraws something you've been hunting for quite some time: another Path Manual. [b][Item Gained: "Flash Step" Technique Manual][/b] *if (persuasion >= 1) Guiren clears his throat. "Wencheng, give the man some cash too for crying out loud. Manuals don't buy dinner." [b][Persuasion 1 Check Passed][/b] *line_break *set val (100 + (persuasion * 20)) [b][Item Gained: ${val} Shards][/b] *set shards + val *set val 0 "This is...Incredible, Guiren," You say looking at the Technique Manual in your hands, "but aren't Techniques from other dojos banned?" Guiren snorts. "Says who? That's a rule for rich snobs and broke Sects. Practical people know to use whatever they can get." He flourishes a hand through the air dismissively, "Besides, who has the right to tell you to limit yourself? You fought well, you're given a reward, and you use it. Anyone who gets in the way of that deserves your next best energy blast to the face." Animated images flood through your mind, images of you blasting Mao in the open mouth so hard that he flies out a window and lands in an active volcano. The image is appealing. "Take the inn for yourself tonight, me and the boys already rested up. I suspect that broad is going to be an issue in Nanhou if she can find allies so meet up with me when you get there. We'll be at the northernmost fishing warehouse. The Boss might like to meet you." *choice #"I'll think about it." "I'll think about it." You reply to the man's offer. "Cool." says Guiren. "See you then. Come on boys, we've got filthy debtor lives to ruin!" *set guirenrep + 3 #"For this paltry pay? Hard pass." "For this paltry pay?" You let out a heavy snort. "Hard pass." The Oni in the group nods along, he gets it. Guiren shrugs. "Suit yourself. Come on boys." #"Nah, I was just doing that to piss that hot Lunargoth off. Strong women love strong enemies." "I'm going to have to decline," You reply, "I was only siding with you to piss that hot Lunargoth off. Strong women love strong enemies." "No fucking way!" Shouts Guiren with wide eyes and a wider, genuine smile, "That's exactly what got me to pick up this job too! When I heard it was a swamp witch with knockers bigger than my head I knew it was worth any risk. Ancestors be praised, it's so good to meet someone else who gets it." One of the Humans in a gold gi speaks up, "Guys, you're both stupid. She's not going to sleep with you to pay off the debt. She's obvious the proud type." "No shit you mongrel dog, I get that," Guiren says, "That's not what I'm setting up. Nah, she's not going to sleep with me to pay off the debt. She's going to sleep with me because she hates my guts." "Race you to it." You say. "You're on." You and Guiren shake hands with maniacal grins. A true brotherhood is formed. *set guirenrep + 10 *else walking up to you and bowing to kiss your hand. "Dai Guiren, at your service. It's always an honor to meet a proper lady who understands the world. We're debt collectors, she had a debt, the right side is obvious." "Quite." You say. "For a mercenary." "Oh?" Guiren winces, feigning injury, "and here I thought you were aiding us for my good looks. I'll see what can be done to...fulfill your needs. Most of our gear is customized to our little [i]family[/i] but some of the things we've collected as collateral can be lost without issue. Let's see..." He looks you up and down, savoring the image. "Perfect. Wencheng," he claps twice, "the scroll!" One of the Humans in a gold combat gi rummages through a satchel and withdraws something you've been seeking for quite some time: another Path Manual. [b][Item Gained: "Flash Step" Technique Manual][/b] *set flashstep true Guiren clears his throat. "Wencheng, I clapped twice." The Human hangs his head and drops a sack in your hand too, this one from his personal beltpouches. [b][Item Obtained: 200 Shards][/b] *set shards + 200 "That should do it. With that I'm afraid our business is concluded unless you'd like to find me in Nanhou which, obviously, you should. We're stationed in the northernmost fishing warehouse by the docks." *choice #"No thanks, I'm not really into lizard guys." "No thanks, I'm not really into lizard guys." *set guirenrep - 5 *if (subrace = "Reptile") [b][Race Check Passed: Reptile Yokai][/b] *set solexp + 3 You can see the rejection of his own people's women cause his soul to slowly leave his body. The light fades from his eyes as Guiren wavers, then collapses into the arms of the Oni guy next to him. "She...She hit me." He says, "She hit me deep." "Damn girl, that's cold." says one of the Humans. You wink at the human to drive the pain home harder. Guiren nearly has a stroke. "This is bad. We've got to get him to a healer!" The Oni shouts, "Now!" Two of them grab Guiren by the arms and legs then sprint for the door. *else "Harsh." says Guiren, "But fair. I'm not too fond of *if (race = "Yokai") *if ((subrace = "Wolf") or (race = "Kitsune")) Wolves *elseif (subrace = "Bovine") Cows *else ${subrace}s *elseif (race = "Oni") Demons *else Humans myself, but I'll make an exception if you will. The other offer still stands too, if you're looking for work. Come on men, we've got more debts to collect." #"I'll think about it." "I'll think about it." "I'd love nothing more." Guiren says. "Come on boys, we've got filthy debtor lives to ruin!" #"For this paltry pay? Hard pass." "For this paltry pay?" You let out a heavy snort. "Hard pass." The Oni in the group nods along, he gets it. Guiren shrugs. "You're missing out on the benefits as well, namely me. We'll be there if you change you mind. Come on boys." #"I have a room right upstairs and you're going to make me wait?" *set guirenromance + 2 *set guirenrep + 10 Guiren coughs hard and audibly, choking on his own spit, red in the face after several hacks. "Wow, that's uh-heh-wow that's quite an offer. Hells yes I ca-" "Guiren." Says the Oni. "Come on Yoji she-" The Oni, this 'Yoji' apparently, crosses his arms as if chastising a child. "Guiren, we've got other debts to collect, and they're on the move." "But Yoji she's [i]right here[/i] and she's [b][i]so hot[/b][/i]." "And Boss wants his money." Yoji says with finality. That sparks the other two into worried action. Together they grab Guiren by the arms and back, shaking their heads as they pull him away. "Sorry man." Says Yoji to his...friend? Leader? You don't know anything about these people. Guiren reaches his hand out towards you looking like a sad puppy as the others drag him off. The four of them leave shortly after and patrons slowly start streaming back in. You shrug and grab a bed of your choosing. The innkeeper doesn't say a word about it. Finally, some rest. [b][1 Chi Point Rested][/b] *set chispent - 1 *if not (jadedragonfoundation) *achieve debtofgratitude *goto innmorning *if (heshe = "she") #Mmm, men. "Hey there boys, is this prostitute giving you trouble?" [Side with the gold Sect] *set honor - 2 *set guirenrep + 10 *goto sidewithgold #Not my problem. Nope. Fuck this. *set metdesdemona 12000000000 *set metguiren 12000000000 You turn around and head out to the woods before Desdemona's ritual finishes. Mosquito bites are better than whatever overly dramatic feud these morons have going on. *page_break *goto tigercamp #Camp in the woods. *label tigercamp *if (survival >= 2) [b][Survival 2 Check Passed][/b] *line_break You're no amateur, sleeping near the inn is a fool's errand. Dozens of Martial Artists will be trying to save every Shard just like you and there's bound to be problems when so many proud warriors meet. On top of that, anyone who came to the same realization as you will march forward for another half hour then try the woods there. Amateurs. Even if no one else would be around you up ahead, the area itself would still be picked clean from the travelers heading to the Trials over the last few weeks. The real rewards are in the untouched woods. So you [i]backtrack[/i] half an hour, away from Nanhou, to ensure you get good rest without competition. Gratification fills your smug heart when you find no tracks to indicate anyone has tried this area in quite a while, with the inn being more promising and the woods beyond it used as a backup plan for the "smart" Martial Artists. This area however is so untouched that you even manage to find a few useful herbs and spirit fruits from trees that have been absorbing ambient aura. *set val ((survival * 2) + (alchemy * 2)) [b][Item Gained: 5 Alchemy Reagents][/b] *set alchemyreagents + 5 *line_break *set apval val *gosub_scene quicks apboost *set val 0 You find a secure grove of trees so you can't be ambushed and rest soundly like a tiger in their own domain... *label tigerfight *page_break ...For six hours. Then you feel the presence of a [i]real[/i] tiger in its domain. At the foot of your camp stalks a massive sabretooth tiger, its back the height of your chest and twice as wide. Orange chi gleams off its two massive fangs the size of your forearms. *else Only a fool would spend resources on comfort when you could save that money toward Cultivation. You march into the woods passed the inn a ways and setup camp from your travel bags. "Who's there?" Calls a boisterous shout from behind a tree. A head pokes out and you see a bald man in some grey combat gi. "You dare steal my camp site? Go pay for lodgings like the other fools, while a true Martial Artist like me saves every shard for Cultivatio-" A second voice speaks out and another man pops up from behind some boulders in a dull yellow combat gi. "Hah! As if you have the brains to discover [i]my[/i] camp site! Why don't you [i]both[/i] go back to the inn like the fools you are and-" "Who goes there?" shouts a third voice, a man walking the trail behind you in brown combat gi. He drops his camping gear when he sees you all arguing. "What are you all doing here?! I just finished dueling the last moron for stealing my camp site!" Damn it all. You pack your things up and walk out of this powder keg. You're here for sleep after sixty straight hours on the road, not for a pissing contest over who can live the most frugally. You march off just as things start to get heated and auras flare. On your way out you pass a Martial Artist in black combat gi and warn him that the guys up ahead stole his camp site. *page_break It takes you another hour to find a camping site that [i]doesn't[/i] have at least 3 Martial Artist hobos hiding behind every corner. The entire experience is exhausting and sleep takes you away to a pleasant dream the second your head rests against the ground. [b][1 Chi Point Rested][/b] *set chispent - 1 ... ... ... For about three hours, until a heavy presence approaches in your spiritual senses. You open bleary bloodshot eyes, awoken too soon. *if (survival >= 1) [b][Survival 1 Check Passed][/b] *line_break *set powexp + 1 [b][No Chi Points Lost][/b] *else [b][Survival 1 Check Failed][/b] *line_break [b][1 Chi Point Spent][/b] *set chispent + 1 And that's when you see the visitor. Not another Martial Artist asking if you'd dare steal their unmarked camp site, but an enormous sabretooth tiger with orange-glowing fangs the size of your forearms. A Beast. *set chosewoods true *if (sonarmode) [b][Thunderfaller vs Sabretooth Beast][/b] *else *image https://www.auraclash.com/assets/img/ap-thunderfaller-vs-sabretooth.png *gosub_scene quicks statcheck You freeze still and the two of you lock eyes in the dim pale light of the night's final moments. You rise to your feet and acknowledge that one of you is experiencing their own final moments as well. The tiger pounces, reaching for your throat. *set fighting true *choice #Catch it by the fangs. *set combatstat "power" *set combatstat2 "fortitude" *set combatdiff 6 *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) With the might of a true warrior you catch its fangs in both hands to end its attack. But catching a Beast in midair is not enough when it still has claws available. You twist the monster's lunge into your own force and swing it to the side, slamming it into a tree with enough force to crack the giant oak and the tiger both. *set tigerhurt + 1 The Beast releases a scream that crosses an irritated cat's screech with a true monster's guttural howl. *page_break *set combatstat "power" *set combatstat2 "fortitude" *set combatdiff 8 *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) Big Chu warned you in your training. Combat isn't all about your own choices, it also depends on the opponent's reaction in a battle of equals. You'll have no control over the sabretooth tiger's next move. If you were equals. You are not. With a heave of unnatural power you lift the Beast belly-up, high overhead, and yank its back down onto your knee with the force of a battering ram. Its spine collides into your immovable bones with a satisfying crack and the Beast spasms violently. You leap back to gain distance and know you've dealt a telling blow. This will all be over soon. *set tigerhurt + 1 *else The Beast latches onto the tree with its claws and climbs up, taking the initiative to sprint up at alarming speeds. It nearly disappears up the tree before it turns around and kicks off a branch, diving at you. Fast! *set combatstat "agility" *set combatdiff 4 *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) But not fast enough. The orange glow of its chi-infused claws help you track its movements and you leap backwards just in time to escape its reach. The Beast lands gracefully and follows up with a second set of claws but you're already on guard, spinning in place and kicking dirt into its eyes, followed up with another full spin leading to a kick to its face. The Beast flies back several feet and scrambles to its feet. *else Your speed is no match for this Beast's prowess and it crashes into you, tumbling you both to the ground where you have two normal hands and it has four sets of claws. Claws that it uses well, gouging new lines of bleeding wounds down your limbs all over. *set apval 4 *gosub_scene quicks aploss *gosub_scene quicks woundcheck 1 false false You give an amateur punch with all your might to knock it off you and surprisingly it hits, knocking the tiger back ten feet and giving you a chance to get to your feet. *else You successfully grab onto its massive, razor-sharp, chi-infused fangs. That is the good news. The bad news is you did not stop their momentum. They are now in your shoulder blade. *gosub_scene quicks woundcheck 1 false false *page_break "AAHHHHHH!!!!" The blood-curdling scream of being devoured escapes your lips as the sabretooth tiger pins you to the ground by the shoulder and starts to chew. *page_break By reflex you charge an energy blast of ${auracolor} chi into each fist, still wrapped around the sabretooth tiger's massive fangs. You unleash the blasts into its mouth. *set combatstat "soul" *set combatdiff 4 *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) With a surge of light your hands glow brighter and brighter until the sabretooth tiger stops and tries to pull back, but it's too late. You've got it by the fangs. As it backs away from you it only drags you to your feet, bloodied but unbroken, and the shining ${auracolor} light of your hands grows more vibrant by the second. The creatures eyes turn to panic just before you unload your two-handed blast right into its open mouth. The explosive force sends it airborne by ten feet. *set tigerhurt + 1 *else But its no use. Your soul is too weak and the scorching blast of your internal chi is dispersed by the energetic force being pumped through the sabretooth tiger's fangs. It continues to bite into your shoulder. *gosub_scene quicks woundcheck 1 false false Your blood curdling scream adds to your own adrenaline, forcing you to kick it off in a final desperate attempt at life. It lands ten feet away as you rise to your feet, bloodied. #Dodge for a counterattack. *set combatstat "agility" *set combatdiff 4 *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) A quick duck is all you need in most cases, but this is a [i]sabretooth tiger[/i]. If you're going to fight fast, you're going to fight dirty. You duck under its mighty leap and grab two handfuls of dirt off the ground instantly, throwing one at the Beast's eyes and one at is underbelly just before its initial leap takes it over your head. The Beast's sense of sight and sense of touch are both disrupted. It's time to attack. *set val (agility * 2) It's obvious as the massive tiger flies over you that any attack will be counterattacked with one of its four massive claws, so that's what you go for. In a surge of ${auracolor} chi you push power into your arms and deliver a punishing flurry of blows to all four of the Beast's elbow joints, making it pull its legs in every direction instinctively to avoid the next strikes. In the fraction of a second that is quick lunge takes it over your head you manage to strike ${val} times. *set val 0 *set tigerhurt + 1 *page_break The Beast lands on the ground behind you with a sharp whine, its joints buckling after the beating you just gave them. It looks like you have the chance to push the offense- It opens its fanged mouth unnaturally wide and sits. Immediately you feel something is wrong. Your senses go wild: a spiritual attack! The moment you notice a flicker of orange light in the Beast's mouth it's already too late; the light erupts into a river of scorching orange power washing over your body. You don't have any flashy Techniques yet. There's no weapon in your arsenal to combat this Beast's energy beam but your raw power and honed control. Could a single energy blast contest with the power of a true Technique? *set combatstat "soul" *set combatstat2 "power" *set combatdiff 7 *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) Yes. It can. With all your will you summon up the full might of your internal energies and unleash a bonfire-size basic energy blast that you throw at the river of power, colliding into it so hard that the Technique loses form and erupts completely. But that's not all. Your attack didn't erupt. The Beast has no warning at all when your shining ${auracolor} blast parts its river of energy and collides into its open mouth, blasting a lined crater through the ground as the Beast is dragged back twelve paces. *set tigerhurt + 1 You choke out a set of heavy, painful breaths and feel the hostile heat in the air almost choking you out...But the sabretooth rises shakily to its feet once again. Rest can wait until the fight is over. *else No, it can't. The river of power collides into your body and burns into your skin, knocking you like a hose kick all over your body. You fly across the forest floor by thirty feet until you collide with a tree. *gosub_scene quicks woundcheck 1 false true Only your combat instincts from Big Chu's training save you from immediate death as you launch an energy blast the second you hit the tree. It's weak but the sensation of hostile power is enough to scare the sabretooth into stopping its charge; you knew it would be following you after that attack, and it would've gored you to death the second it caught up. Now you have a second to stand, smoke still coming off your body, and you eye the Beast through unflinching eyes. Your message is clear: This fight isn't over. *else With a quick dodge you've able to duck under the sabretooth Beast's bite and deliver a serious of quick blows to the sabretooth's underbelly. Where its four legs are poised to attack with razor-sharp claws. Your speed and reach prove insufficient as the Beast reacts in time and shreds your head, chest, and shoulders from above with its natural weaponry. *gosub_scene quicks woundcheck 1 false false *page_break Blood blurs your vision from multiple forehead wounds. Not good, you think, and you can only barely make out the figure of the sabretooth Beast landing from its leap in front of you after clawing you from overhead. It turns and charges back at you, but you can't tell its limbs from its body. looking through the blood covering your eyes is difficult enough just to see the blob coming at you. There's only one option, and so you focus all your power into defense and slam yourself forward, *if (fortitude <= 2) hoping you'll meet the Beast's attack before it can gain momentum. *else crashing into the sabretooth Beast like a steel anvil. *set combatstat "fortitude" *set combatdiff 4 *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) Your gambit pays off and the tiger realizes its mistake too late. Your body hardens and dashes directly into its chest head-first, colliding into the tiger's chest like a cannonball and you feel something inside break with a sickening crunch. A howling scream comes from the Tiger's mouth and it bats you away, is claws failing to cut you. *set tigerhurt + 1 You're knocked ten feet away or so and find the blood from your forehead has stopped thanks to your enhanced Fortitude. Both your hands go up in a battle stance and the tiger crouches low, staring at you in a new light: a threat. The battle rages on. *else Fangs cut through your thigh out of nowhere as you realize the figure was closer than it appeared and your body isn't nearly as dense as you'd hoped. Warm blood leaks down your pants and the Beast shakes its head to get a better angle with which to bite, but you turn just in time to survive the second attack with just a gash down your left ribs. *gosub_scene quicks woundcheck 1 false false The rush of battle is the only thing keeping you alive, and its that rush that pushes you to counter an incoming charge with a spinning back-kick. Your foot collides with the tiger's upper jaw and deflects the Beast to the side while pushing yourself away in the air. Both of you land a dozen paces apart. This fight's not over yet. #Blast it out of the air. *set combatstat "soul" *set combatdiff 5 *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) You've never learned a real combat Technique, but you've learned the foundations. And you've improved on them. With both hands outstretched to your sides you conjure the raw scorching power of your internal ${auracolor} chi, shining brighter than bonfires. When the Beast gets close you slam your hands together and direct the collision of the blasts directly into its body, knocking the Beast into the air. It's a good hit, but superficial. Then you charge up a second bonfire of chi and throw it at the airborne Beast where it can't dodge. [i]That[/i] attack is not superficial, and the direct hit blows the monster back into a tree. *set tigerhurt + 1 *page_break The sabretooth tiger releases a deafening roar of pain and rage as your attack hits, interrupted when it collides with the tree behind it. But before you have time to gloat it's already gone. A blur of orange energy tells you it's surged an Agility Core to move at heightened speeds. And its trail of orange chi leads right behind you. *page_break *set combatstat "fortitude" *set combatdiff 4 *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) A look. That's all it takes. You turn your head and stare into the eyes of the sabretooth tiger behind you as its jaws clamp down on your skull for the kill. In that fraction of a second your eyes meet and the sabretooth knows that death has come. Then its fangs clamp on your skull on instinct and find no purchase, even on your skin. And now its underbelly is exposed to you. You grab the beast's chest with one hand for leverage and, with the other, punch your steel-skinned fist into its heart, knocking it back so hard that it bounces off the ground twice before landing. *set tigerhurt + 1 *else *gosub_scene quicks woundcheck 1 false false You turn too late and feel its jaws close in on your skull. On reflex you push back and avoid having your head crushed like a melon, but still feel the lancing pain of its large fangs cut through your cheeks as you pull away. It tries to follow up with a second bite but you kick off with inhuman power of desperation and land ten feet away. *else You've never learned a real combat Technique and now you truly wish you had. The Beast closes in on you with its sharp fangs and you charge up a glowing sphere of ${auracolor} chi in each hand. But you're too slow. A savage roar imbalances the flow of your chi and the sabretooth tiger is already upon you. With one massive claw it knocks your arm aside and disrupts the chi blast, then targets the other by biting into your left shoulder. Its full weight crashes into you and knocks you to the ground, giving added force to its massive fangs that pierce your flesh while the two of you fall. *gosub_scene quicks woundcheck 1 false false *page_break You're pinned on the ground with a chi-infused sabretooth tiger eating you alive. This is not the fate you envisioned, and it's not a fate you'll accept. Chi of your own flows through your veins and you channel it into your free arm. *set combatstat "power" *set combatdiff 4 *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) "BEGONE!" You scream with a bonebreaking elbow to the sabretooth's face. You can feel its cheek indent as if struck by a meteor. The Beast staggers for a moment and you seize that opportunity to strike it again, reeling back this time with a full-bodied twist into your punch. *set tigerhurt + 1 The impact is satisfying. Under the strength of your arm the tiger not only buckles but soars, launching through the air a dozen paces. Had it not been for the sabretooth tiger's control of chi as a Beast you're positive its head would have come off. You rise to your feet, bleeding but invigorated. The tiger stands shakily and looks at you in a new light: a threat. You can do this. *else The giant sabretooth rips your body back and forth on the ground to disrupt your chi channeling and continues to bite into your shoulder. *gosub_scene quicks woundcheck 1 false false Screams escape your mouth and blood pools under your back as the tiger stands over you and eats you alive. Your life of struggles and constant labor flash before your eyes. The training all a waste, the constant efforts under Big Chu failing to save you from a single Beast. All the Martial Arts practice in the world cannot match up to real battle experience, you might as well be another amateur kid who only knows how to kick someone in the- ... [i]Please, please, PLEASE be a male tiger![/i] You think to yourself as you swing a foot up with all your might and connect, kicking the sabretooth Beast directly in the dick and sending it sprinting away with a whining yelp. A laugh almost escapes your lips but your mouth is too full of blood to execute it. You rise to your feet and spit it out, focusing your chi into keeping your body alive and raising both hands to continue the fight. A dozen paces away the tiger has recovered. This fight isn't over. *page_break *gosub_scene quicks statcheck *line_break *line_break The tiger paces around your makeshift camp clockwise to find a new mode of attack, growling in anger. It clearly wants its meal and it wants it now, guaranteed by the rules of nature. Rules you spit on. Before it can choose its next action you remind it who is the hunter and who is the prey. *set val (6 - tigerhurt) *choice #Deliver an aerial elbow strike. It's time to end this. You sprint at the sabretooth and it rears up on its hind legs in return. Massive claws extend once again to rip you to shreds, but the animal is too close to a tree for its own good. When you come just outside its striking distance you kick off the ground hard enough to launch a cloud of dirt around you and speed towards the tree branch fifteen feet up. You twist in the air and your feet slam into the tree's sturdy branch from the bottom. To the Beast's perspective, you're squatting upside down. Then you attack. *set combatstat "power" *set combatdiff val *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) The branch explodes from the impact of your downward launch, scattering a storm of splinters through the air as you dash at the tiger's back. Your elbow stiffens and connects with the back of the Beast's nape, digging hard into its sturdy coat and dividing the muscles cleanly with the force of your blow. The impact is so powerful that you not only feel its spine snap, you [i]hear[/i] it. Your target's body cushions your fast descent into the ground and the two of you tumble, hard, forcing you to roll off several feet. You rise to your feet quickly. If the sabretooth survived its going to come at you with everything it has, and you can't be caught unprepared on the ground. But when you get to your feet to take up a battle stance you see your fears are unfounded. The sabretooth Beast lays still on the ground, its neck hanging at an odd angle. It won't be getting back up. *else The Beast turns just in time to face you and avoid a fatal blow as you kick off the branch and dive at it with a lethal elbow strike harnessing the full power of your weight and speed. Before you can strike the Beast's nape and break its spine, it turns to face you. And takes an elbow directly to the face, crunching its nose in. The force of your blow forces you to tumble over the sabretooth, crashing to the ground. You rise quickly and prepare for a counterattack but instead see the Beast running off, clearly interested in prey that won't bust its face open so badly. *set apval 8 *gosub_scene quicks apboost *set forexp + 2 After a few minutes of searching you accept that the Beast has fully fled, pack up your camp, and get back on the road. *goto Next_fourdays #Execute a disorienting ten-punch combo. Enough games. No flashy moves, no secret Technique, no grand finale. This Beast tried to kill you and now it circles you like prey, as if this were some fight that belonged in nature. You're far from natural. You're a Martial Artist and this unwashed Beast will learn its mistake. You rush in and close the distance between the two of you in just an instant. The sabretooth rears its head back defensively and swings at you with its large claw but you catch the paw in your left hand while delivering a cross-punch with your right, knocking its arm off balance and slamming the tiger's jaw with your fist. Then you strike its other arm just before it swings at you. The Beast roars and tries to leap over you, in an attempt to eviscerate you with its hind legs, and you grab its neck in response and throw the creature over your shoulder instead. It collides into a collection of nearby rocks. *set combatstat "agility" *set combatdiff val *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) This fight is no longer on the tiger's terms. If it wants to protect its head, you strike its head. If it wants to advance, you knock it back. If it wants to retreat, you close the distance. As you throw the Beast into a tree it lands upside down. Realization reflects in the eyes of the man-eating monster: You are the predator. It is the prey. One quick dash closes the distance before the sabretooth Beast can right itself and you start raining punches down on its underbelly and joints. Three to the gut, two to deflect attacks. [i]Faster.[/i] Three to the chest, three to the hind legs, two to the head. Your arms begin to glow. [i]FASTER!![/i] Seven to the chest, four to the neck, three to deflect attacks. Your whole body begins to glow. [i][b]FASTER!!![/b][/i] Eight to the belly, four to the groin, six to the chest, ten to the head. Vibrant flashes emit from each impact. The last sight the Beast sees before losing consciousness is a wild ${race} blurring in a violent frenzy of ${auracolor} light. *else *goto tigerflees #Release a volley of energy blasts. This fight needs to end. You mimic the sabretooth Beast's circular prowling and charge chi through your chest and down your arms, concentrating it into your palms. You keep your breath steady and cycle your Cores to spin out as much power as you can. You're going to need it. The Beast finally takes its opportunity and pounces, charging orange chi through its claws in its own final attack, but you've charged up enough power quickly. If this monster wanted to devour you for the power in your soul then it can have it. You unleash the ${auracolor} force of inner chi stored in your hands with a blast of hostile energy, slamming into the Beast midair. *set combatstat "soul" *set combatdiff val *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) It recoils from the scorching impact of your energy blast and adjusts itself to continue its attack, and you hold back a - no. No, you don't hold back a laugh. You [i]laugh[/i]. *set val (((soul) + insight) + handseals) Then you fire the other ${val} chi blasts you've been storing. A cacophony of tiger screams and explosions fill the forest as your relentless assault strikes the tiger so hard and so fast that the Beast remains in the air, battered like a ragdoll, practically juggled by the nonstop blitz of hostile blasts. Near the end you're pouring attacks out so quickly that you're not even firing them from your hands anymore, instead forming a boiling orb of chi in front of your outstretched arms and launching the blasts from the raging energy inside. When your assault finally ends the Beast falls to the ground ungracefully. Its body is sturdy, a powerful hide designed to withstand so many attacks, but everything has is limits and this monster's limit didn't measure up to your final attack. It lies on the ground, defeated. *else *set solspent + 1 *goto tigerflees *if (element1 != "None") *selectable_if (((chipool + (soul/2)) - chispent) >= 1) #Unleash a full-power ${element1} Blast. [Costs 1 Chi] *label fullpowerblast *set chispent + 1 You stand still and focus your *if (val = 444) ${element2} *else ${element1} chi through your entire body. The sabretooth Beast crouches low and prepares for a pounce. Both your hands meet calmly in front of your chest, palms touching. Each breath steadies your internal energies and cycles the power of *if (val = 444) ${element2} *else ${element1} through your aura. The Beast closes the gap between you in an instant. You exhale and release all tension out of your body. Focus is most important. The Beast's claws extend and swipe at your unprotected throat for the kill. It's stopped by a shockwave of power when your auras touch. Your eyes shine open like two blazing ${auracolor} torches and an explosion of *if (val = 444) *if (element2 = "Fire") burning energy scorches through *elseif (element2 = "Ice") freezing energy engulfs *elseif (element2 = "Storm") shocking energy electrocutes *elseif (element2 = "Water") crushing water with the force of the deepest trench engulfs *elseif (element2 = "Earth") stalagmites shoot from the ground and pierce through the underbelly of *elseif (element2 = "Wind") razor-sharp wind slices through the chest of *elseif (element2 = "Darkness") void energy blasts through *elseif (element2 = "Light") solar energy blasts through *else *if (element1 = "Fire") burning energy scorches through *elseif (element1 = "Ice") freezing energy engulfs *elseif (element1 = "Storm") shocking energy electrocutes *elseif (element1 = "Water") crushing water with the force of the deepest trench engulfs *elseif (element1 = "Earth") stalagmites shoot from the ground and pierce through the underbelly of *elseif (element1 = "Wind") razor-sharp wind slices through the chest of *elseif (element1 = "Darkness") void energy blasts through *elseif (element1 = "Light") solar energy blasts through the sabretooth Tiger before it has a chance to howl. You can feel its aura dissipate as its body and spirit are attacked directly by a source of real power. *set val 0 *page_break *elseif (element2 != "") *selectable_if (((chipool + (soul/2)) - chispent) >= 1) #Unleash a full-power ${element2} Blast. [Costs 1 Chi] *set val 444 *goto fullpowerblast *if (roc > 0) #Call down ${rocname}. [Requires Roc Companion] *set tigerusedroc true There's more than one Beast in this forest. With a whistle you summon your Roc from her resting perch high above you on the heavy branches. The tiger shrinks back at what it assumes was an attack, but recovers quickly and leaps at you again. Being airborne was the worst thing it could have done. $!{rocname} uses the momentum to grab the Beast by its back with both talons and soar into the air. The sabretooth howls in pain and struggles to turn over, clawing at your Roc's legs, but it can't reach behind it far enough. Too much muscle. $!{rocname} flaps her wings as hard as they'll go and you notice a slight glow around her. Huh, when did she learn to surge Power Cores? You feel a bit of pride as she ascends to nearly 500 feet in the air over a collection of boulders then drops the murderous sabretooth that tried to take her master's life. To the tiger's credit, it lands feet-first. Then its ribs when its legs collapse instantly. Then its skull when its ribs collapse instantly. Blood pools around the rocks but you remain cautious. It would take more than that to kill a spiritually-enhanced Beast. Yet even so, for now it does not rise. *page_break *label killedtiger *page_break *image https://www.auraclash.com/assets/img/ap-victory.png *gosub_scene quicks statcheck *line_break *line_break *set fighting false You pant and wipe sweat from your brow with a trembling hand, adrenal shakes still rock through your body from the rush of a life-and-death battle. The large sabretooth tiger lies defeated on the forest floor, unconscious with shallow breaths, and you feel the power of true battle experience *if (subrace = "Cat") or (subrace = "Wolf") against an ancestral rival flow through your veins. *if (subrace = "Cat") These lands only have room for one feline Beast, and that's you. *if not (jadedragonfoundation) *achieve catfight *gosub_scene quicks fightexp *if (subrace = "Cat") *line_break [b][Cat Yokai Bonus][/b] *set apval 5 *gosub_scene quicks apboost *elseif (subrace = "Wolf") *line_break [b][Wolf Yokai Bonus][/b] *set apval 5 *gosub_scene quicks apboost It's more than that though, there's something else stirring at the center of your Cores...No, only one of your Cores. A Fortitude Core. That Beast came to consume you. To end your life and use your body to continue is own. An unforgivable insult and sin. Deep inside your mind a natural and primal fear clashed against your will to survive and stirred something inside you. Something best learned in the wilds, not the dojo. Something basic but necessary, ancient and forgotten by too many. [b][Technique Learned: Iron Body][/b] *set ironbody true *set forsurge + 1 *line_break [b][Iron Body can be used to make your skin as dense as metal and allows you to Surge 2 Fortitude Cores at once, effectively giving you up to +2 Fortitude for difficult checks when needed.][/b] *page_break *if (tigerusedroc) ${rocname} lands almost-gracefully next to you with a flutter of her giant wings. You give her a treat and she nuzzles your *if (wounds > 0) cheek, her hard beak scratching a bruise. You wince. "Easy girl, it's not every day I get hit by a giant tiger." You take a few minutes to wrap yourself in a few bandages and look *else cheek. You've taken no wounds so you don't mind and give her a gentle pat before pushing her back and looking over the Beast's unconscious body. ${rocname} reaches for it as a meal and you have to stop her. "Down girl!" You shout, arms wrapped around her neck to stop her dining lunge. "That's mine!" "Rrrreeeeeee!!" She screeches. "No! Bad bird!" It takes another five lunges but she finally relents and flies off find her own breakfast, miffed. With her gone you finally have a breathing moment to analyze the Beast's body. *else *if (wounds > 0) It takes a quick minute to your clean off using your waterskin and tend to your wounds with bandages from your pack. When you're done you stare over at the Beast's unmoving body. *else After calming down by splashing some water on your face from a nearby stream and taking a few much-needed gulps you stare over at the Beast's unmoving body. Somewhere in there is a Soul Treasure that the sabretooth Beast uses to store its power; a focus like a physical counterpart to your spiritual Cores. Likely a fang or bone, possibly an organ. It would be a shame to waste it...But this was the Beast's domain. You have no claim to these woods and Mother has always taught you that such authority has meaning. You were the intruder, is it right to kill the warden of this land? Or do Beasts not count as landowners? The options weigh in your mind until you finally... *choice #Finish the Beast off and harvest what I can from its corpse. You harden your hand with the Iron Body Technique and slice down on the sabretooth's neck with an execution strike. The Soul Treasure is easier to find than you expected. One of the Beast's hind paws has an orange claw that practically shines with power. You didn't notice during the fight because its front claws were a closer threat. *rand val 550 625 *if (alchemy >= 1) [b][Alchemy ${alchemy} Check Passed][/b] *set val + (50 * alchemy) *line_break [b][Soul Treasure AP Increased to ${val}] *else [b][Alchemy 1 Check Failed][/b] *line_break [b][Item Gained: Sabretooth Soul Treasure][/b] *set sabretoothtrophy val You harvest some of the sabretooth's meat for breakfast as well but the taste is awful and barely increases your Aura Pressure at all. *set apval 2 *gosub_scene quicks apboost *if (race = "Yokai") *line_break [b][Yokai Bonus: Aura Pressure +3][/b] *set aurapressure + 3 Still, you pack some up to dry as jerky *if (roc > 0) and food for ${rocname} *set roccombat + 1 so you can save on expenses. Meat is meat. All that leaves is the pelt... *choice *selectable_if (survival >= 1) #Skin the Beast for a sellable pelt. [Survival Check] *set pelt 1 Ca-ching! You were wrong about the Soul Treasure, this stubborn Beast was well on its way to forming a second: its pelt. The bad news is it takes you far longer than you'd like to skin the sabretooth. The good news is this is premium material for any number of specialty items. You can get good money for this whenever you find a buyer, which should be easy in Nanhou where Martial Artists are gathering for the Heavenly Ascension Trials. You pack the giant pelt over your camping bag and march back onto the roads. *selectable_if (craft >= 1) #Skin the Beast to craft a regal cloak. [Craft Check] Lucky day! You were wrong about the one Soul Treasure, this stubborn Beast was well on its way to forming a second: its pelt. You strip the pelt off and dry it fast using salts and chi then get to trimming and sewing, ending up with a giant golden-brown fur cloak leading from your head down to your feet with the top half of a sabretooth's skull hanging over your forehead. [b][Item Gained: Sabretooth Cloak][/b] *set sabrecloak + 1 *line_break [b][Can be equipped as an Accessory in your Inventory][/b] Donning your new sabretooth cloak fills you with a sense of security and command, infusing you with a fraction of the Beast's regal power. You march back to the road with pride on your journey to the Heavenly Ascension Trials in Nanhou. #Leave it be. What is there to be done? You've already mangled the pelt to get the Soul Treasure and meat. You leave the scene of your fight behind and pack up camp. There's a long journey ahead on your way to the Heavenly Ascension Trials in Nanhou. #Leave the noble creature and head back on the trail. *set ruthless - 5 *set honor + 3 *set powexp + 12 *set forexp + 10 *set solexp + 10 *set agiexp + 12 *if (race = "Yokai") *set aurapressure + 3 As you leave the sabretooth Beast to the mercy of the woods you can't help but feel that you're being watched. An eerie sense of judgment - and gratitude? - permeates through the air and you swear you can hear voices whispering in the trees. A quick spiritual scan reveals nothing but the feeling sends a chill down the back of your neck. On a completely unrelated note, you pack up camp immediately and sprint back onto the trail towards Nanhou. You're running because you're excited for the Trials, and that's the story you're sticking to if anyone asks. *label tigercontinue *page_break *gosub_scene quicks timepass The next day poses no problems on the road, nor does the next night as you set up camp and rest soundlessly. Sleep comes easily, and so do the dreams. *gosub baddream *goto Next_fourdays *label innmorning *page_break Zzz *gosub baddream *page_break *gosub_scene quicks timepass Warm sunlight greets you the next morning and you feel truly refreshed, the memories of a bad dream fading away quickly. The inn is buzzing with travelers in the main hall and the Technique Manual in your hand begs to be read. Your journey ahead is a long one, but if you can keep this pace then you should be able to relax well enough for one morning of civilization. You flip through the pages of the *if (purpleside) Energy Tide *elseif (goldside) Flash Step Technique Manual while the inn's worker pours tea alongside your nice breakfast of... *choice #Meat dumplings. You dig into the meat dumplings greedily and don't question what kind of meat is *if (subrace = "Bovine") inside. [i]Hopefully[/i] it's not beef. You don't want to start the morning as a cannibal but, by the Heavens, the orange sauce they put on these would almost be worth it. *else inside because, by the Heavens, whatever orange sauce they put on these is divine. #Rice porridge. Many of the guests around you are eating meat or drinking sake for breakfast because they are savages that serve no place in a civilized world. Instead you order the rice porridge, a [b]breakfast food[/b], because it is time for [b]breakfast[/b]. These animals have no shame. *set honor + 2 #Sake. *set honor - 2 Drinking in the morning is heavily frowned upon by some sort of dipshits who aren't around to bother you. Bottoms up! #Whatever the worker brings me, I don't care. A nice breakfast of gruel. It tastes like fishy salted paper and fills you up. Now back to more important tasks. Ambient chatter is drowned out by your study in the meantime. According to the Technique Manual the *if (purpleside) "Energy Tide" Technique is a chi specialist's wet dream. No wonder Desdemona's clique is considered a Sect of witches, this one Technique alone can be used to enrich a long list of handseal rituals and energy attacks by immediately claiming the natural energies in the air around the wielder and using them to enhance their own energy output. That's something normally only possible in a Heavenly Gate. *else "Flash Step" Technique enables the user to align their Agility Core with the natural aura around them to push [i]and[/i] pull themselves a short distance at such an incredible speed that it would look as though they had teleported, even to most onlookers with higher Aura Pressure than the user. It's not only a great Technique for combat but also a flashy one that can impress at the Trials. You read through the morning and depart back on your journey. For the next 3 days you read while walking. It causes several incidents where you bump into others *if (ruthless >= 55) and tell them to fuck off. They each back down. Refreshing. *else but no one strong enough to start a fight over it. Not with you. Not yet. Obviously breaks are needed and you don't let them go to waste. Whenever you're not reading mid-march you try out the right exercises mentioned in the Manual. At night you rest beside trees surrounded by the right feng shui components that the Manual mentions. In the mornings you focus your chi in the proper chakra formations, utilize the right breathing methods, and waste your chi by pushing it into your mind's imagery of the right results. All according to the Technique Manual's guidance. At the end of the third day you're marching down a dirt road beside a rice field when you feel a satisfying soreness expand in your spirit's center. Progress. Your Cores have attuned a single step in the right direction to learn *if (purpleside) Energy Tide *else Flash Step and the Technique Manual responds just as its instructions said it would. The manual in your hands, a Soul Treasure designed for learning this very Technique, dissolves at the presence of a partially completed Technique Core and you eagerly cycle its essence into your center to finish the process. *if (purpleside) [b][Technique Learned: Energy Tide][/b] *set energytide true *set solsurge + 1 *set sealdiscount + 1 *line_break [b][Energy Tide causes the natural energy around you to rise upward and boost your energy attacks or mystic effects in certain situations. It also allows you to Surge an additional Soul Core to avoid failing Soul Checks, effectively giving you up to +1 Soul when needed.] *elseif (goldside) [b][Technique Learned: Flash Step][/b] *set flashstep true *set agisurge + 1 *line_break [b][Flash Step allows for short-range teleportation and allows you to Surge an additional Agility Core to avoid failing Agility Checks, effectively giving you up to +1 Agility when needed.][/b] A surge of solidified power rests at the center of your soul and a gratifying laugh escapes your lips as you test your new ability. *if (flashstep) One infused step forward has you suddenly appear one hundred paces down the road in front of a [i]very[/i] surprised horse. You activate the Flash Step again to get further down the road and away from the consequences of your commotion. *set agiexp + 3 *elseif (energytide) White and grey energy rises in drifting lights from the ground all around you. With a grip on such power you pull all those lines into your hand and wrap them around a basic energy blast, launching the now torso-sized orb off into the distance where it gives a satisfying explosion that could have killed a horse. Luckily you didn't hit anything important, just some rice. "Hey, my rice field!" Shouts a farmer nearby, "You get back here and pay for rice!" *fake_choice *selectable_if (((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 20) #Pay for the damages. [20 Shards] Twenty Shards later and you're out of trouble, though the farmer still spits at the ground whenever he looks at you. *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 20 *set honor + 6 *page_break #Run. *set agiexp + 2 *set honor - 1 *goto Next_fourdays2 #Rob him. *set honor - 3 "I'm not paying for anything." You say, cracking your knuckles. "But you are." The unpowered dirt farmer looks from you to the rice field behind him. He grimaces at his burnt crops and turns back to you with scorn. "No, I pay nothing." He takes his plow in both hands like a spear and prepares to defend his lands, honor, and life. You slap the crap out of him and walk off with his coinpurse. *rand val 9 14 [b][Item Gained: ${val} Shards][/b] *set shards + val *set val 0 *goto Next_fourdays *label tigerflees *set fighting false The Sabretooth roars in pain while shrinking back from your attack. Before you can follow-up it performs the counter you least expected: it runs. Heavy breaths steady your legs as the damned thing up and flees, dashing through the trees to escape from what was obviously not an easy meal. After a few minutes of searching around you accept that the cowardly cat is actually gone and sigh with relief. Surviving against a man-eating monster is a victory of its own. *set forexp + 2 *set apval 8 *gosub_scene quicks apboost *goto tigercontinue *label Next_fourdays *page_break *label Next_fourdays2 Several days go by without incident. You rest every two days to keep a good pace but there's one thought you can't get out of your mind no matter how tired you become. Where is everyone? So far your journey has been more than a week of crowded roads and idle gossip, mostly about the worst-kept secret, some musical festival planned midway through the Trials. Yet all chatter has disappeared. The caravans are nowhere to be found and with them you've lost the commoners who stuck to the caravans for protection. The road you walk is barren, devoid of travelers, and you constantly check your map to make sure you didn't take a wrong turn. That's when you notice for the first time what the caravans must have seen with their scouts. You never took a wrong turn. Rather, the rest of the populace must have been smart enough to avoid trouble and took a detour around what you now see climbing over the tree line. Smoke. *page_break The trade-road village before you is burnt to a crisp. The stench of black smoke and burnt meat fills the air as you draw closer. Blackened buildings with collapsed or incinerated roofs line the main street, clear work of hostile chi-wielders. Either Beast, Man, or Spirit. The buildings behind those, on the outskirt of town, have been demolished with physical force. That rules out most Spirits. You don't like where this is going. Judging by the scorch marks crossing the ground there were Storm Techniques involved in the attack, yet Fire aura dominates the surroundings in your spiritual senses so at least two Elements were used. *if (insight >= 2) Both were from different sources too, according to your keen scanning abilities. *set solexp + 4 The grizzly sight of three blackened corpses on their knees outside a burnt shop tells you the rest of the story; nobody begs to a Beast. These people were killed by Martial Artists. Whoever lived in this village either insulted or didn't bow to the wrong person, or they were robbed by someone who didn't want witnesses. Hells, maybe they were simply target practice for a newly learned Technique. Whatever the cause, every person in town paid the price. This world is not fair. *choice #Look for survivors. *set ruthless - 1 "Hello?" You call out to the town, "HELLO?? MY NAME IS $!!{fullname}, IS ANYONE HERE ALIVE?" No answer. "I'm not with whoever did this! If anyone is here, I can help!" No answer. "Well if no one is here, I'm going to start destroying buildings to clear this town for my Sect!" Wooden boards shuffle from behind a broken-down building and a face pops out. One of an elderly woman of such age that she's shrunken significantly. Or she was born very short. "Don't you even think about it, you arrogant upstart! I didn't let those other Martial Artists have this town, and I won't let you have it either!" You let out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness, someone's alive. Do you have injuries that need treating?" "Injuries? Child, you were just threatening to destroy my home!" "Correct, because you weren't talking to me. So I lied. Now you're talking to me." The old woman blinks, grimaces, and shakes her head. "Such dishonor!" "Do you desire treatment or not? And are there others around here that need help?" "Pft, others ${heshe} says. Of course there are others! Come on out everyone, the jig is up." A parade of twenty other wounded come crawling out of various houses, though some couldn't even manage that. The lot of them are limping from broken limbs or badly treated gashes, but the worst off are the burn victims. Any eagerness to learn what happened here will have to wait if you want to save anyone. Some of these people are worse off than you imagined; they need treatment [i]now[/i], especially the burn victims. *set val 7 - (alchemy * 2) *if (val < 0) *set val 0 *choice *selectable_if ((alchemyreagents >= val) and (alchemy >= 1)) #Treat the burns. [Costs ${val} Alchemy Reagents.] *set alchemyreagents - val *set ruthless - 5 "I can treat the wounded." You announce, pulling your satchel out front and digging through your supplies. *if (heshe = "he") "Sonny, *else "Young lady, please don't give these poor souls false hope. I don't mean to put a damper on things but our alchemist was slaughtered and his inventory stolen. Unless you walk around with a collection of aloe leaf and nian bile, half of our wounded are not going to see sunrise." You withdraw your jar of nian bile and rip a fuuinjutsu tag, exploding the paper into a puff of smoke that transforms into your collection of aloe leaves. [b][Item Lost: ${val} Alchemy Reagents][/b] "Oh." The old lady says, coughing politely around the burn victims whose hopes she just wrongfully dashed. "Well, I'll see myself out." Optimism and soothing unguents fill the camp as you treat the burns of the most wounded in silence. Several hours pass before your work is done and, surprisingly, the elderly woman joins you halfway through to assist with the easier tasks like washing rags or collecting water. "That's all we can do for now," you say to the old woman after four more hours of healing. She rings her wrinkled hands and nods. "I know not whether you were sent by the Wild Gods or the Saints but I will pray to them all for your good health. *if (ruthless < 50) *set val (26 + (50 - ruthless)) *else *set val 27 *set prestige + 1 *goto grannywords #Search the woods for medicinal herbs. *set ruthless - 3 The surrounding woods are ruined on the western side where the fire continued on for who knows how long, but the north side provides you with plenty of... *if (survival >= 1) [b][Survival 1 Check Passed][/b] *set forexp + 1 ...medicinal moss and roots useful in soothing pain or protecting skin while it restores. You head back with your bundle and hand them over to the old lady, who administers the moss paste to the burn victims and boils a root extract for the others. When she lights a campfire to boil the roots most of the survivors flinch. *set val 18 Hours later everyone is treated and most have settled down into the same ruins of a large building. The old granny wipes sweat off her brow with a half-burnt cloth and sighs with relief. "That's all we can do for now, and thank you deary," says the old woman, "thanks to that moss paste most of the others will make it to see tomorrow. We'll need every pair of hands we can get after those savages took so many away. *label grannywords Words truly cannot express how thankful we are." "Honored elder there's no need for words-" "-which is why we'll be using cash." The old woman drops a pouch into your hand with an odd clink. You've heard the sounds of clinking Silver thousands of times throughout your life. This isn't Silver. It's Gold. *page_break You open the pouch to confirm and see the shining golden coins reflecting back at you from the sun's light. [b][Item Gained: ${val} Gold][/b] *set gold + val "And don't think of turning it down, whippersnapper! With more ruffians coming through I suspect we'll be picked clean by next week. I'd rather it go to someone decent." "Thank you honored elder, I just wish I could have been here to stop the attack in the first place." The old lady chuckles. "I doubt you could have done much. An entire Sect two-dozen strong is a bit much to ask of a polite young ${manwoman}, and their bald leader gave my spine the chills." A chill runs down your own spine too. "This bald leader, did anyone call his name?" "Why yes, when one of the attackers found our alchemist's elixir stock. She called out to him to spread the 'good' news of their murderous plunder. I believe his name was Tao, or Tayo, or Toro. It's hard to hear well at my age, especially with the house burning." Taio... Deep down, you already knew. There was no trace of his aura in the ambient chi left behind but you [i]knew[/i] something like this would be his handiwork. "He didn't use a single attack, this Taio, did he? He didn't even activate his aura." The granny thinks for a moment. "Now that you mention it, no. Not that I can recall, though I only peaked through a shattered window. I did find it odd that he wasn't glowing like the others but with his fanciful robes and that decorative book-" "A screaming face on the front?" The granny shivers and looks to the ground gravely. "It sounds like you're too familiar with it already. I'm afraid you're in trouble if we both saw the same man, *if (heshe = "she") young lady. *else sonny. [i]That man[/i] is trouble and his gang of killers is no better." That confirms it. Taio was here. *set mettaio 11000000000 Worse, he's heading west to the Heavenly Ascension Trials. What is he up to? You look to the old woman and lay a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "His gang, they're called the Sunbringers. My Sect has been fighting them since before I was born. I swear to you I will-" "No, no, no. That can't be right, I'd recognize the Sunbringers anywhere." "Huh?" "We purchase lucky charms from them for calm winters and good harvests. Have been for years. These thugs didn't have the Sunbringer uniforms, I'd recognize them anywhere. No, these unrepentant cretins wore red and brown." No Sect you've heard of wears red and brown. It sounds like Taio has new allies. "If he's heading to the Trials then I have to get back on the road, fast. Is there anything else you need before I leave?" The old lady chuckles. "A thousand and one things, but don't you worry about us anymore young *if (heshe = "he") man. *else lady. You get back on that road to win your little competition before I give you a spanking for not looking out for yourself." *page_break *goto campafterburning *else [b][Survival 1 Check Failed][/b] ...trouble. What you thought was a medicinal leaf due to its nice color pattern was actually a poisonous plant inducing itchiness and swelling all over your palms and fingers. [b][1 Agility Core Depleted][/b] *if ((agility - agispent) >= 1) *set agispent + 1 After that fiasco you become more careful with your selection, doing your best to guess at proper medical plants. You also stop at a creak [i]several[/i] times to wash your hands and kill the itch. By the time you return to the villagers several have already passed away. Your ineptitude in the woods delayed the search too long. You hand the medicine over to the old lady and she peers inside your basket with remorse. *if (heshe = "he") "...Sonny, *else "...Young lady, these are useless weeds." Looks of despair and loss spread across the survivors. "Oh, I uh..." She places the basket down with a slow shake of the head. "I think it's best if you just go." "...Yes, that would be best." You agree and turn 180 degrees, leaving in shame immediately. *set val 11 *page_break On your way out of the village you curse yourself for failure and curse these woods for the painful itch running through your palms and between your fingers, like your skin peeling off one speck at a time. In your constant irritation, you even find yourself cursing the villagers. Why did you bother trying to save *if (ruthless > 54) these peasants? *else them? What's the damned point of it all if no one benefits? What's the point if [i]you[/i] don't benefit? *goto taiowhisper *selectable_if (craft >= 1) #Apply bandages and splints instead. *set ruthless - 3 [b][Craft/Survival ${craft} Check Passed][/b] *set forexp + craft Treating the burns is out of the question with the supplies you have on-hand and what you're willing to lose. Though that doesn't mean you're without mercy or ability. Stripping your own travel cloak and spare blanket into cloth gives you what you need for bandages and scrounging unburnt wood from the outer buildings gives you the materials for splints. You spend the next few hours tending to cuts, scrapes, sprains, and breaks, as well as putting together canes or crutches to help the wounded travel. "That's about all I can do for now." You finally say when the last patient is treated. "It should help most of you get back on your feet." "[i]That's all[/i] ${heshe} says, as if it were nothing. Pah!" The elder woman tsks at you several times. "Believe in yourself, *if (heshe = "he") sonny! *else young lady! You've helped us more than we'd ever expect from a stranger. *set val (12+(craft*2)) *goto grannywords *if (ruthless >= 57) #Discard the badly wounded and keep the rest as prisoners. *set ruthless + 3 *set powexp + 2 "You, you, and you, you're with me." You say to the three least wounded men who are already tending to others. "What do you mean?" Asks the closest. "I mean we're getting back on the road. Leave the rest." "Leave...? But you said you were going to help!" "I lied, fool. Be thankful that you have the [i]privilege[/i] to serve the ${clan} Clan and follow me, there is much to be done. These other peasants will be fine on their own." "No we won't." Murmurs a prone burn victim ever so meekly. "See? She's well enough to talk. Now follow me before I start breaking things." You eye the elderly woman that you've internally named 'things'. The three men stare to each other and nod, ready to fight, until your aura of ${auracolor} power explodes with enough intensity to knock them on their butts. You're no Master, but compared to the unpowered peasantry you've become a Monster. "Do not make me repeat myself." With tears in their eyes, they rise to their feet and follow you away from the wounded-in-need. Their eyes do not look back to their abandoned fellow villagers. [b][3 Underlings Acquired][/b] *set underlings + 3 *goto taiowhisper #Leave them to their fate. *set ruthless + 2 *set honor + 1 Forget this, you were hoping for some old Masters with ancient secrets, not a bunch of bumpkins. You roll your eyes at this pitiful lot and head down the main road to continue your journey to Nanhou. You're not here to save a bunch of peasants, you already spent most of your life as a peasant. If they want to improve their lot in life like you then they need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and get to work! *label taiowhisper "You're learning." Whispers Taio. [i]!!![/i] $!{auracolor} energy surges around your body, blurring when you spin in place with arm extended for a backhand fist, but it connects with nothing. There's no one behind you. A spiritual scan outward reveals no Aura Pressures beyond the ambient fire and storm aura from the village's attack, and no matter how deep or hard you press your spiritual attention on the chi traces of flames you find no power hiding in them. Two and a half hours pass by in tense, battle-ready preparation before you accept that there really is no one there. "That was...strange." Almost disappointed, you continue on your way down the main road. *goto campafterburning *set val 0 #Look for loot. *set honor - 2 Several hours go by as you sift through houses, shops, what was probably once a tavern, and even the town's well looking for anything that hasn't been burnt black. Lockboxes, safes, hidden cellar doors, anything useful. *if (((perception >= 2) or ((perception >= 1) and (thievery >= 2))) or (subrace = "Wolf")) *if (subrace = "Wolf") Surprisingly, following your nose leads you to all three. *set solexp + 2 *elseif (perception < 2) [b][Perception 1 Check Passed][/b] *line_break [b][Thievery 2 Check Passed][/b] *else [b][Perception ${perception} Check Passed][/b] *set agiexp + (perception * 2) Surprisingly you find all three. Several lockboxes offer themselves up to you over the course of a few hours searching through a set of buildings you've identified as former shops. *if ((insight >= 1) or (thievery >= 2)) Even better, you find a broken safe with some [i]exceedingly[/i] sour spirit fruit inside. The red berries radiate the power of Storm and Ice and dance on your tongue like a sadist in spiked shoes. *rand val 1460 1850 [b][Item Gained: ${val} Silver][/b] *set silver + val *line_break [b][Item Gained: Low-Grade Soul Pill][/b] *set lgsolpill + 1 *line_break [b][Item Gained: Low-Grade Fortitude Pill][/b] *set lgforpill + 1 *if ((insight >= 1) or (thievery >= 2)) *line_break [b][Spirit Fruit Consumed: +11 Aura Pressure][/b] *set aurapressure + 11 *label fuuinjutsuchance Picking through the town proves fruitful and you pack up to get on your *if (handseals >= 1) way. [b][Do you spend 1 Chi to seal your new belongings away into Fuuinjutsu paper tags?][/b] *choice *if ((((soul / 2) + chipool) - chispent) >= 1) #Yes. *set chispent + 1 [b][1 Chi Point Spent][/b] With deft fingers you invoke the proper zodiac handseals over your new possessions. In a flash they disappear, mystically storing each into a paper tag with sigils on the front. When stored in the paper tag the object will have nearly no weight and can be carried in your pocket. When that paper is ripped, you'll have your possessions back. The Sealing practice does your spirit some good. *set apval 4 *gosub_scene quicks apboost *else *selectable_if (val = 10000000) #Yes. [Not enough chi] Some stuff. idk man. How did you even get here? Stop reading my code or I'll add the USS Liberty to all USA middle school curriculums. #No. Never one to trust the mystical, you pack up like a normal person and march out of town. *set forexp + 1 *else way. As you exit town you think about how easy it is to collect a bounty when you're strong enough to not fear other scavengers. As an unpowered child the sight of a burning town would have scared you to your core, yet as a young adult it's become the equivalent of a treasure chest. *goto taiowhisper *elseif ((perception >= 1) or (thievery >= 2)) *if (perception >= 1) [b][Perception 1 Check Passed][/b] *else [b][Thievery 2 Check Passed][/b] *set agiexp + 2 Several lockboxes offer themselves up to you over the course of a few hours search through a set of buildings you've identified as former shops. *rand val 560 850 [b][Item Gained: ${val} Silver][/b] *set silver + val *line_break [b][Item Gained: Low-Grade Soul Pill][/b] *set lgsolpill + 1 *line_break [b][Item Gained: Low-Grade Fortitude Pill][/b] *set lgforpill + 1 *if (insight >= 2) [b][Insight Check Passed][/b] *set solexp + 3 That bounty is nice, but it's the cold safe built into a crumbling wall that keeps your attention. Someone went through great work to make sure the container remained cold through some sort of mystic Seal, which is how you found it with your spiritual senses. Luckily it's been damaged. You simply open it to find the bounty waiting inside: Spirit Fruits. The red berries crackle with an odd mix of chilling lightning sparks. Popping one into your mouth proves a challenge when you realize they're sourer than anything you've ever tasted, eviscerating your tastebuds with shocking flavor. It takes entire minutes of rinsing water before your tongue even recovers well enough to talk. Still, power is power. You pop another berry from the pile into your mouth and repeat the process over an hour. [b][Aura Pressure +11][/b] *set aurapressure + 11 *goto fuuinjutsuchance *else It's incredible how you find almost none of that. Whoever attacked this place must have looted it too, all you manage to find is a pile of loose melted-together change surrounded by ash that was probably once a coinpouch. *rand val 260 350 [b][Item Gained: ${val} Silver][/b] *set silver + val It's not much but taking something is better than taking nothing. It's not like the dead are going to miss it. *goto fuuinjutsuchance *label campafterburning *set val 0 Several miles of westward marching later you decide it's time to get some rest. The woods down the road from your grim surroundings are probably the safest place you've found in days, unfortunate as that may be. Most caravans have avoided the road leading to the crispy hamlet and any Beast in the territory would have already investigated the disturbance by now. After twenty minutes you've found your spot and *if (underlings > 0) made your underlings setup camp, start the fire, and cook dinner. With a warm glow and a full belly you rest your head *if (agispent >= 1) *set agispent - 1 *if (powspent >= 1) *set powspent - 1 *if (forspent >= 1) *set forspent - 1 *if (solspent >= 1) *set solspent - 1 *if (agispent >= 1) *set agispent - 1 *if (powspent >= 1) *set powspent - 1 *if (forspent >= 1) *set forspent - 1 *if (solspent >= 1) *set solspent - 1 *else setup camp, letting your head rest *if (agispent >= 1) *set agispent - 1 *if (powspent >= 1) *set powspent - 1 *if (forspent >= 1) *set forspent - 1 *if (solspent >= 1) *set solspent - 1 on the bedmat and drift peacefully into the inviting dreams of sleep. *page_break What's that noise? Hours later the early morning greets you with a smile. Not from the warmth of the sun, but from the dozen men surrounding you. Each holds a mace in their hand and they've formed a circle around your sleeping mat, snickering as realization shows in your bleary eyes. Combat chi cycles through your Cores just as a voice breaks through the rest. "Well, well, well! *if (underlings > 0) Weary travelers find themselves *else A weary traveler finds ${himher}self in my camp." Says a bookish Human man parting through the crowd of fighters. *if (portraitpics) *image https://www.auraclash.com/assets/img/dounohal.jpg "Or if we're both in luck I should say... *if (underlings > 0) weary customers? *else a weary customer? Hmh. Guards!" The man claps his hands twice. "Back to work! Everyone get back to work!" All armed men as well as several onlookers disperse throughout the dozens of wagons you now notice surrounding your camp. It's easy enough to recognize the setup now that you've had a minute. It's a sight you've seen hundreds of times. A merchant caravan. "Sorry for the display," whispers one of the guards passing by, "boss wanted a dramatic entrance." "Silence!" Shouts the bookish man to the guard. "Pardon the Help, honored Martial Artist, it's hard to find good people. I am Dou Nohal and it is my pleasure to run into a representative of the..." He pauses, *if (underlings > 0) squinting between you and your underlings. "Say, what faction do you all represent?" "These ${underlings} are my servants," You say with pride, "only I represent a faction." *set nohalrep + 2 "And what faction might that be?" *else squinting at your outfit. "Say, what faction do you represent?" *choice #"The Thunderfall Sect." "I'm a Disciple of the Thunderfall Sect." Hopefully the name carries weight. "BY THE HEAVENS!" The man shrinks back, "You're one of Mao's dogs?! Guards!!" Uh oh. *page_break Over a dozen of the armed fighters return but this time they aren't armed with simple clubs, several have taken up axes and swords radiating power. Soul Treasures. The guards surround you as Dou Nohal glares and points a single finger at your chest as if it were a weapon. "This ${manwoman} serves Mao. You know what to do!" *choice #"I don't serve Mao!" "I don't serve Mao!" You shout *if (persuasion >= 1) before the situation escalates. [b][Persuasion 1 Check Passed][/b] *set powexp + 2 *set nohalrep + 1 "You don't?" Asks Dou Nohal, "But does he not still run Thunderfall?" "He does, and his family and mine are feuding." "Hm...unlikely he would let you live, but also likely he would make enemies, that contemptable bastard. Allow me a guess: he killed your relative in a duel too? For me it was a niece." "His son tried. I beat him bloody and they never let the slight go." It's easy enough to convince them thanks to such a high amount of earnesty in your voice. Mao's an asshole and his son abducted your siblings. "Well that changes things!" Dou Nohal says in delight, shoulders loosening as if he no longer holds the weight of the world on them. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Come, I'd very much like to make a deal with you." *set val 5 *else in vain, as the violence has already escalated. *set nohalrep - 1 *goto nohalviolence #[Attack first] *label nohalviolence *set combatstat "power" *set combatdiff 5 *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) *label guardsasskicking As a dozen guards rush you with glowing weapons you return the favor with glowing hands and feet, ${auracolor} light trailing behind your fast-moving strikes that knock their equipment out of their hands followed by palm strikes to their center, legsweeps, and lower jaw knockout blows. In seconds they're on the ground groaning. "B-Bravo! Bravo!" Shouts Dou Nohal, clapping. "You passed the test with flying colors!" "There was no test." You say while approaching him. "You attacked me." "If it wasn't a test then why do I have your initial payment already bundled?" The man tosses you a coinpouch. *if (passcheck) [b][Item Gained: 60 Shards][/b] *set shards + 60 *else [b][Item Gained: 30 Shards][/b] *set shards + 30 This sleazy man is obviously lying, but he's speaking the right language. "...Go on." "I'm a man of means in need of a man of *if (heshe = "he") power. *else power, or a woman of power in this case. As you can see my guards here are insufficient for the Heavenly Ascension Trials. Come with me to my wagon, I'd like to discuss a deal that benefits us both." *if (heshe = "she") Ancestors, if he tries to sleep with you you're cutting off fingers. *set val 4 *else The fight takes more out of you than you expect, but your chi reserves rush to meet the challenge. [b][1 Chi Point Spent][/b] *set chispent - 1 *set passcheck false *goto guardsasskicking #"The ${clan} Clan." *set toldname true "${fullname}, I represent the ${clan} Clan." You boast, getting off the ground. *if (prestige >= 4) *set val 2 [b][Prestige Check Passed][/b] *set powexp + 5 *set nohalrep + 2 *set mentionedclan true "Oh my, so you're that minor Clan sprouting from a feud with your own Sect, yes? I've heard it mentioned once or twice among the traders. Quite the gossip! With an Aura Pressure like yours you must be the young ${patriarch}." *if (ruthless >= 58) "Glad to see someone recognizes greatness." "It's an important skill in business!" *else "You've a keen eye." "Only for business!" The man replies with enthusiasm. "Come, come, let us speak in my wagon. I've use of someone with your talents." *page_break *set prestige + 1 *else *set val 1 [b][Prestige Check Failed][/b] The man frowns. "I'm afraid I've never heard of such a Clan. Is it foreign or newly established?" "New, but expect great things in the future." Dou Nohal smiles with thin lips. "You'll need to spread that name a bit. Allow me to extend an olive branch and help your Clan get off it's feet then. Follow me to my wagon, there's much the caravans have to offer, and even more they need done. We could use another Martial Artist." #"None of your business." *set val 3 *set nohalrep - 3 "My faction is none of your business, merchant." *if (honor < 45) You fail to resist the urge to spit on him at the end of that sentence. Your loogie splatters against his pant leg. "I...see." Dou Nohal says, taking out a handcloth and wiping his leg. *else You resist the urge to spit on him at the end of that sentence. "I see." Dou Nohal says while cleaning his glasses with a cloth. "That's most unfortunate. I was seeking a Martial Artist that wanted to make money." *if (honor < 50) "Whoa now," you say suddenly, "let's not get carried away. How much money are we talking?" "How much can you carry?" "Mr. Dou," You waltz up to the man and place an arm around his shoulder. "This may be the start of a beautiful friendship." *else Damn it, you're going to need funds for the Trials, especially to find a way to save Rin and Jin. Your gaze casts from the ground to the man and you swallow your pride. "How much money?" "How much can you carry?" A heavy sigh escapes your lips. "That's an offer too good to refuse." The bookish man smiles halfheartedly. "I thought as much. Follow me to my wagon and we can discuss the deals. For both our sakes I won't probe about your faction or past any longer." *page_break The two of you enter a makeshift tent formed around the largest wagon in the caravan. Dou Nohal opens the flap leading inside and you follow. *if (underlings > 0) "You know, loose lips sink ships, or so they say in the Cursed Lands." He nods to your underlings waiting outside. "Are they safe to keep within earshot?" *if (ruthless >= 54) "If they know what's good for them." You nod to the closest with a clear warning. *else "Probably not. HEY!" You shout to your underlings. "Get lost for a bit." They nod eagerly, sprinting away. Dou Nohal sighs and snaps his fingers for some man with a bow drawn to approach. "Guard, make sure they don't escape the camp." "Yes sir." Nohal steps into the wagon and comes out with three pieces of paper covered in black sigils. Fuuinjutsu tags. He rips them in half and each bursts into smoke; smoke that quickly takes the form of whatever objects were sealed inside the paper. Before your eyes the smoke solidifies back to the objects' original forms: two upholstered Lunargothic thrones and a sturdy table. "Sit, please." Says Dou Nohal, "I find reclining like a King to be amenable to deals between equals." He doesn't have to ask you twice, you've been on your feet for weeks now. Sitting on the cushion of this throne chair feels like your butt is being supported by a cloud. A cloud who loves you. A firm yet masterful cloud who knows how to relax your aching lower back and glutes at the same time. "Down to business." Some voice says, interrupting your euphoria. Oh right. Dou Nohal. Business. "I'll be frank, we don't have any Martial Artists. Not one." "I'm sorry but wait, [i]what[/i]?" "Yes, all gone. Most unfortunate." You blink several, several times. "This is a caravan, your coffers hold enough to employ anyone." "They did! And you're the first we found since our original guards took our coffers and ran for the Heavenly Ascension Trials to try their luck." "I don't quite understand, this [i]doesn't happen[/i], ever. Won't your guards be executed for this?" Dou Nohal laughs heartily. "I sure hope so! But it seems they think they can avoid such a grizzly fate by winning the Trials which, to their credit, would do the trick. My employers cannot afford to anger the Archonate." He withdraws a scroll from his robes, an employment contract to be precise. "I've learned my lesson, the rules have changed while the Trials are here. I wish to make you an offer: sign on to my caravan and I'll be sure you're paid the highest salary we can allow to outside mercenaries." A quick gaze to the contract shows what makes him so confident in signing you on, because you've seen one of these before with Magistrate Khan and Crusher Mao. This scroll is a soul-binding contract. *page_break "What the Hells is this?" You ask, reading through the soul-binding contract. "A guarantee of loyalty to our Choral Line Sect. To be precise, a temporary one. You'll find that all the clauses within are quite reasonable. *if ((lore+perception) >= 3) [b][Lore+Perception 3 Check Passed][/b] *set powexp + 2 *set solexp + 1 As you read on you see Dou Nohal is correct. This is almost exactly the kind of contract you'd expect to see for normal employment. All clauses but an anti-theft clause end when you reach Nanhou, and even that clause ends two months later. Quite generous for a Sect to say 'you can go back to trying to rob us after we leave'. It even has a few extra clauses to protect both the caravan and yourself from unlikely events like never reaching Nanhou. All in all, it doesn't appear to be a trap at all. Just a desperate security measure from a desperate man. *else [b][Lore+Perception 3 Check Failed][/b] All this legal mumbojumbo makes the contract impossible to read. It uses entire paragraphs to say vague statements that could take a sentence, you think, and it uses words no one would say in place of common words. From the looks of things it even repeats itself multiple times just to take up a lot of space. There's no way in Hell anyone talks like this, so why write like this? Suspicious. At the bottom of the contract is your pay for the remaining weeks travel to Nanhou: *if (race = "Human") 350 *elseif (race = "Oni") 250 *else 300 Shards. *label choosecaravan *choice #Sign the contract. *set chapter 4.5 *set metnohal 11000000000 *set nohalrep + 2 *if (pelt = 1) "...Deal, on one condition." Dou Nohal smiles and opens his *if (nohalrep > 50) hands as if welcoming an old friend. *else hands. "Name it." You slap the heavy sabretooth tiger's pelt down into the table. "That may be the most you can pay me for the job, but I want full market price for this Beast pelt too. It can't go over my salary limit if it's not part of the salary." Nohal rubs his chin, lifting the pelt here and there to examine the claws, lining, and fur quality. He nods appreciatively at every step. "It's decent condition. You've got yourself a deal." *set val (((100 + (30 * persuasion)) + (survival * 15)) + (commerce * 5)) [b][Pelt Bonus:: ${val} Shards][/b] *set pelt 2 *set commerce + 2 *set shards + val *set val 0 *else "Deal." Signing the papers sends a coiling sensation all over your spirit. Not a restricting one, and though it's hard to envision you do manage to see an image in your mind: the sensation is similar to your spirit wearing a scarf. A noticeable but non-threatening presence. *if (background = "Merchant") [b][Background Event: Merchant][/b] *set nohalrep + 10 Dou Nohal jumps out of his seat when he sees your name signed onto the scroll. "${fullname}!? I-I apologize *if (heshe = "he") sir, *else madam, I had no idea!" "No idea of what?" He guffaws, which only raises your sense of alarm. "That it was you! A shareholder! *if (mentionedclan) I didn't realize the rumored new ${clan} Clan was the same as our record's ${clan} Clan! You're its ${patriarch}, are you not? You personally own *else Your family owns a 5% stake in our Choral Line Sect's operations in Outer West!" Oh Holy Hells, this is the Trade Sect that Father bought a stake in! *if (toldname) You try to suppress your surprise and clear your throat, trying to come off like the ${patriarch} you've become. "Mister Dou, I already introduced myself earlier. Why didn't you recognize me then?" He bows at the waist. "My humblest apologies, Honored Guest, I did not recognize the name until I saw it spelled out. Why, *else "Why, I damned near had you doing monkey work!" Nohal grabs the soul-binding oath contract and rips it in half. *if (toldname) "No contract will be necessary, obviously. Please, *else "My sincere apologies, please, take my wagon for the duration of the trip. We'll see to it that you're brought safely to Nanhou. Is there anything I can get you while you wait?" Truthfully you're still staring at the shredded contract on the floor. "I'm confused. Am I getting paid for a job or not?" Dou Nohal scoffs. "You're more than welcome to aid us as you wish but, if I may be so blunt, you're a regional shareholder of my master's Trade Sect. We're paying you just to exist." [b][Item Gained: 1200 Silver][/b] *set silver + 1200 "But would I get paid more for doing other tasks?" Dou Nohal smiles at that. "Finally, someone who understands the value in multiple streams of income. I was worried you would be the type to sit around content with the money you have." A dismissive laugh escapes your lips. "Dou Nohal, come now. We've both been raised merchants! We're never content with the money we have." *else "Wonderful!" Nohal says as he signs his own name and the spiritual sensation coils around his own spirit. He shivers and the two of you shake hands. More than the gainful employment you find yourself looking forward to the free ride on a wagon. Finally you can make some progress on your journey even while sleeping. "Now it's just a matter of what you'll actually be doing. Obviously we'll need you to flex your Aura Pressure a bit and protect us if it comes to that, but there are many tasks for the day-to-day that require a ${manwoman} of your caliber." #Turn 360 degrees and walk away. *set workfordou 3 *set metnohal 14000000000 *set nohalrep - 5 "I'll pass." You say, sliding the contract back to his side of the table. As you get up and turn around to leave Nohal slams a hand on the table. "Are you truly going to turn down such a lucrative offer? All because you're forced not to rob your own wards?!" You turn back to him. "My reasons are my own. I'll not bind my soul to anyone, and I was doing fine before you came along. I will be fine after." "Then get the hell out of my caravan!" Dou Nohal demands. "If we can't trust you then we can't host you, LEAVE!" It's never good when merchants get uppity. You keep an eye on him as you walk backwards out of his tent, then continue to keep your eyes locked on his location as you walk backwards through the whole camp. On your way out of the western side of the circle of wagons *if (underlings > 0) you notice your ${underlings} underlings talking to some woman, a wagon driver by the looks of her outfit. "Hey, minions! We're getting back on the road!" They all hang their head and follow, which proves quite difficult when you *else you turn with a flourish and leap as high and far as possible down the western trail to avoid any potential traps, and to show off. In fact, you go much further than expected, soaring high above most branches. As your Aura Pressure has grown so too have your abilities, and it's been a while since you tested athleticism outside of short bursts in combat...this may be good training. You continue the long jumps for strenuous hours until the sun sets and rises again the next morning. While you're thankful to make up so much extra ground on your travels, you quickly grow annoyed at how long it takes to feel the burn of a good workout. The stamina gained from your inner chi is a blessing and a curse. *if (athletics >= 1) [b][Athletics ${athletics} Check Succeeded][/b] *set val (5 + (athletics * 2)) *line_break *set apval val *gosub_scene quicks apboost *set val 0 *if (hungryspiritritual != 1) *line_break [b][Hungry Soul Bonus: +5 Aura Pressure][/b] *set aurapressure + 5 *else *set apval 4 *gosub_scene quicks apboost *page_break *set chapter 4.5 Days later you find yourself travelling through a major town for the first time of your journey. Multistory buildings, plentiful shops, massive ramie fields to the north and rows of vegetable fields to the south, town gates, and the latent Aura Pressure in the air telling you that a Sect must live here. Or at least plenty of Martial Artists among the customers, seeing as four separate merchant caravans are setup in the market square when you arrive. *goto shopintown *disable_reuse #"If you don't have any Martial Artists, why shouldn't I just rob you and leave?" *set nohalrep - 3 "If you don't have any Martial Artists, why shouldn't I just rob you and leave?" Dou Nohal doesn't even blink, but his expression does harden. "Because in the twenty minutes we spent setting up that fanciful mock-robbery around your sleeping form, you know, the lighthearted fun I offered out of the kindness of my heart, I was also having my scribes draw your likeness and uniform. We've sent messenger birds back to my Sect's outposts so they know who to send assassins after should anything happen to us." "Ah." "Indeed." Nohal's smile grows thin. "And now I know the contract is necessary for your kind." "So...Business." You look from the disappointed merchant to the soul-binding oath. *goto choosecaravan *choice #Scan for Aura Pressures along the route. *if (((insight >= 2) or ((element1 = "Light") or (element2 = "Light"))) or ((insight = 1) and ((style = "Kurokonton") or ((element1 = "Darkness") or (element2 = "Darkness"))))) *if (insight >= 2) [b][Insight 2 Check Passed][/b] *elseif ((element1 = "Light") or (element2 = "Light")) [b][Insight 2 Check Failed][/b] *line_break [b][Element Event: Light][/b] The Light element lends several powers that help with vision and detection. Despite your spiritual scans not being up to the task, your visual scans are able to carry the weight. *set solexp + 2 *goto Next_keensensescaravan *else [b][Insight 2 Check Failed][/b] *line_break *if ((element1 = "Darkness") or (element2 = "Darkness")) [b][Element Event: Darkness ][/b] *else [b][Style Event: Kurokonton][/b] Between your moderate prowess in spiritual scanning and your control of *if ((element1 = "Darkness") or (element2 = "Darkness")) Darkness *else yin chi you're able to sense threats and mask your caravan's presence in equal measure. *set solexp + 2 *goto Next_keensensescaravan Spiritual scanning is a specialty mastered in deep meditations, it cannot be learned in a rush like power-based abilities. Luckily you've already put the time into your meditations. *label Next_keensensescaravan Thanks to your keen senses the caravan avoids a multitude of problems, from a besieged village to an enormous Boar Beast. Granted, your spiritual scan is what wakens and angers the Boar Beast, but you're able to do so from such a distance that the caravan changes routes and avoids the problem altogether. It's almost boring how successful you are. Over the next week or so the caravan stops safely at town after town. Each stop only consists of setting up the caravan at morning and packing up again at night to get back on the road. In between the merchants get to work and you continue keeping an eye out for threats. The only excitement you get is a single thief utilizing Darkness chi to mask his presence while stealing jewelry. You grab his wrist and suddenly his obfuscation falls away, along with his composure when the nearby guards beat him with clubs to set an example. Dou Nohal is particularly thankful for your help. *set apval 3 *gosub_scene quicks apboost *line_break [b][Item Gained: 300 Silver][/b] *set silver + 300 *set prestige + 1 *else [b][Insight 2 Check Failed][/b] Long range spiritual scanning is a specialty mastered in deep meditations, and deep meditation is for losers. Yet you took this job anyway because who would mess with a trade caravan? Sure, you may be garbage at reading distant Aura Pressures but that doesn't mean the caravan drivers need to know it. "You guys are good." Becomes your go-to motto whenever the caravanners ask if they can continue. And you guys aren't good. *label boarattackohshidd After a week on the road, between stops at different towns to sell the caravan's wares and buy supplies, a rustle from the trees draws your attention. A rustle from the teak trees. Teak trees are not supposed to rustle. *page_break "BEAST!!" Shout several caravan drivers across multiple wagons before the enormous boar crashes through the tree line on your left. Entire trees fly over your head from the rampaging charge of a massive boar taller than your wagons. Green lines of power glow along its side that assault your spiritual senses with *if (jadedragonfoundation) a heavy weight nearly strong enough to drop you to one knee. You haven't scanned any Upper Disciples back home for scale but whatever this Beast is, it's above your paygrade. Maybe above Big Chu's. *else with a heavy presence that eclipses even some Upper Disciples of Thunderfall. *choice #Distract it away from the caravan. $!{auracolor} chi explodes around your body like a bonfire and the Beast notices, turning in place and goring for your torso. *set combatstat "agility" *set combatskill "athletics" *set combatdiff 6 *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) Thinking quick you grab it by the tusk and use the creature's own weaponry for leverage, pulling yourself forward and flipping over the boar's back. Then you run through the hole in the trees it just created. Luckily for every caravanner, your plan works and it chases you. Twenty minutes later you return, panting, and thoroughly shocked that the chase was so close. You were able to slide in between so many full-sized trees during the chase through the woods and the boar had Agility Cores and Power Cores to spare, bursting through the woodlands without issue and closing the gap too closely more times than you can count. But in the end the Beast wasted too much energy and you did not; Aura Pressure only matters if you know how to use it. Everyone welcomes you back when you return with a cheer and a drink. *set apval 5 *gosub_scene quicks apboost *else Thinking quickly you...realize that quick thoughts don't matter without a quick body. The beast's tusk stabs into your gut and slams you into one of the thicker trees along the main road. *label ironbodysmackedboar *if ((ironbody) and (((chipool + (soul / 2)) - chispent) >= 1)) [b][Use the Iron Body Technique?][/b] *choice #Yes. [Costs 1 Chi Point] *set chispent + 1 [b][Damage Resisted!][/b] "Is that all you've got?!" You scream to the boar, grabbing onto its tusk that fails to pierce through your iron skin. Your fingertips, likewise hardened to iron, sink into the boar's tusk like needles compared to such a massive natural weapon. The Boar feels this violation and shakes you loose, sprinting across the road and crashing through the other side of the forest to make a second hole through the trees. Its Aura Pressure is easy to scan and you can feel it continue running away in a straight line. Slowly you pull yourself out of the tree that you've been slammed into and see the caravanners cheering you on, many offering drinks as thanks. #No. *label getsmackedbyboar *gosub_scene quicks woundcheck 1 false false *if not (ironbody) *page_break "Easy now." Dou Nohal says, "Lower ${himher} down safely." You shoot up in bed, recovering much faster than a mortal body ever could. "Good Heavens!" exclaims Nohal while several of his caravanners drop your mattress and make far more vulgar expressions in surprise. You land on your feet and rise, dusting yourself off. "We thought we lost you for a moment." Nohal says, dismissing the Help. "Took quite the hit there, and we had to use more than a few stinking concoctions on the Beast before it stopped chewing on you." You roll your shoulder to the sound of excessive popping and eye the merchant caravan's leader. "You've had Beast repellant this whole time?" "Humbly, yes, but not enough to throw it around liberally. If you're good enough to stand though we'd very much like to get back on the road. Are you well enough to get back to work?" "I get eaten by a house shaped like a pig and you're already asking if I'll get back to work?" Dou Nohal looks at you as if you've said the dumbest thing he's heard all day, week, and month. "I'm a merchant, young ${manwoman}. We should both expect me to act like it." *else *goto getsmackedbyboar #Calm the Beast down. *if ((persuasion + survival) >= 3) [b][Persuasion + Survival 3 Check Passed][/b] "Easy now," you say to the rampaging beast, laying a gentle hand on the Beast. It responds by rearing back and stomping the ground, then spinning with its rear legs and kicking for your chest. Its hooves are almost the size of your entire torso and you barely dodge the battering ram of a kick. That's when you realize you need to negotiate from a better position. Like on top of its head. You leap to its forehead and grab the hair around its ears with an iron grip while the Beast thrashes, trying to lodge you into the trees. All the while you pull its hair on the left or right side to maneuver the Beast into the right direction so the caravan wagons can sneak by its rampage unscathed. *set apval 3 *gosub_scene quicks apboost Hours later the Beast finally calms and sits on the ground, taking a disgruntled nap that blocks the road. It's given up trying to crush you and resorts to farting loudly instead. You're both more than happy to part ways as you catch up to the caravan, welcomed back with open arms and more than a few drink offers. *set powexp + 1 *elseif (style = "Midorikatai") [b][Style Event: Midorikatai][/b] "Easy now," you say to the rampaging Beast when suddenly one of its wild kicks cuts your shirt and nearly bisects you with its bladed hoof. "HEY SHITASS, I SAID EASY NOW!" You smack the monster's leg hard enough to ripple a wave across its muscles. It leaps from the shock and you reach high, grab its tusk, and yank its head towards you to look it in the face. "People are walking here! Get back in your damn woods!" The enraged Beast looks into your eyes and- Oh, nope, you've headbutted it in the left eye and the poor thing squeals out in pain, shying back and shedding tears. [i]Now[/i] the Beast looks into your eyes, and it doesn't quite like what it sees. Meekly the massive creature backs away through the hole in the wall of trees it already made, tripping on one trunk before hurriedly getting back to its feet and running away. *if (ruthless >= 52) "Yeah that's right!" You shout at the retreating creature, "and stay off the road unless you're paying tolls like the rest of us! Fucking freeloader!" *set apval 8 *gosub_scene quicks apboost *else "Easy now," You say to the boar, leaping off the wagon and patting the Beast on its hide. [b][Persuasion + Survival 3 Check Failed][/b] The creature immediately responds by leaping onto its hind legs and wrenching itself backwards, slamming you into a thick tree with so much force that you're stuck in the wood. Then it turns around and stabs you with its tusk. *goto ironbodysmackedboar *if (jadedragonfoundation) #Scare it off with your aura. [Requires Jade Dragon Foundatin] You flare your ${auracolor} aura to its full potential and feel a roar barely suppressed in the deeper recesses of your spirit. The massive boar Beast feels it too. Its eyes lock on yours, monster to monster. [b]*CRACK*[/b] Trees explode into shrapnel when the hulking creature flees the way it came, running at full speed with surged Agility Cores. It doesn't stop for any obstacle and even noticably weakens its spirit by charging through so many trees, yet it doesn't stop. It runs until it's out of sight, and soon, even out of hearing. Half the caraveneers cheer at your victory and offer their food or drinks. The other half don't make eye contact and keep their distance. #Repair the bumpy wagon wheels. There's nothing quite like wagon repairs to lift the spirits of caravanners; no one enjoys a bumpy ride from loose or damaged wagon wheels. Unfortunately most of these parts are too heavy for people to handle without stopping and collaborating, and the only time they can do that is when they're already busy stopping at a town to make sales. Only the superior strength of a Martial Artist could handle most of these repairs in transit. That's where you come in. *if ((craft >= 2) or ((element1 = "Earth") or (element2 = "Earth"))) [b][Craft 2 Check Passed][/b] *set forexp + 1 *set powexp + 1 You actually manage to pull off better repairs than expected, a lot of the problems turn out to be design flaws. Over the next week you fetch wide trees and cut the lumber yourself then catch up to the caravan and whittle the wheels out. The spokes you whittle from the spare wood and the hubs you're able to get from other broken wheels. Dou Nohal's merchant caravan sports eighteen wagons and you end up replacing more wheels than not. *set apval 2 *gosub_scene quicks apboost In the end, the journey becomes that much faster from abandoning all the drag. *label liarliarpumpkinsupplier Several of the caravanners thank you with their specialty herbs and scented candles they had needed to sleep due to the bumpy ride. It seems you've made them obsolete. [b][Item Gained: 11 Ritual Components][/b] *set ritualcomponents + 11 Dou Nohal praises you on saving the caravan, as reports come in of a massive boar Beast attacking the travelers an hour behind you on the road. The increase in wagon speed is the only reason your caravan was spared. He thanks you [i]more[/i] for saving the budget, seeing as wagon repairs are an expected cost of business. When you ask if he'll be splitting those savings with you he says no. *set nohalrep + 4 *set commerce + 1 *elsif ((element1 = "Earth") or (element2 = "Earth")) [b][Craft 2 Check Failed][/b] *line_break [b][Element Event: Earth][/b] As it turns out, carpentry is difficult. Each repair you perform over the next week is mediocre at best, however, no one in the caravan needs to know that. Through your elemental affinity you wrap the wheels of each caravan in a thin layer of Earth chi that helps it glide more quickly and smoothly across the dirt and stone roads. It's enough to make the ride that much more comfortable and everyone seems to think it's thanks to your repairman skills. You lying bastard. *set apval 4 *gosub_scene quicks apboost *goto liarliarpumpkinsupplier *else [b][Craft 2 Check Failed][/b] Wheels prove to be harder to fix than anyone dared to mention. Over the next week you fetch wide trees and cut the lumber yourself, then catch up to the caravan and continuously fail to whittle the wheel correctly. The damned things always crack. It seems there's a reason people who can make them properly earn their own title as wheelwrights instead of being called carpenters. You suppose that regular woodworkers aren't up to the task of wheelsmithery. The carpenters fear the power of the wheelwright, and as of right now, so do you. *page_break *goto boarattackohshidd #Pack more inventory away with Fuuinjutsu Handseals. *if ((handseals >= 2) or (style = "Kiihakai")) *if (handseals >= 2) [b][Handseals 2 Check Passed][/b] *set solexp + 2 *set powexp + 1 Binding larger objects into fuuinjutsu Seals is difficult and time-consuming, but you have the time and you have the skill. *elseif (style = "Kiihakai") [b][Style Event: Kiihakai][/b] *line_break *if (handseals = 0) You've never been one for handseals but somehow the motion comes to you naturally. It's as if the zodiac finger formations are just common sense, and the *else Enacting Seals with the zodiac finger formations has been coming to you more naturally of late. The chi used to fuel them doesn't come from your ambient surrounding *if (handseals != 0) anymore like it's supposed to, instead it comes from your Cores as if you're using a Technique. With each proper finger formation a black ink brand appears on the paper tags and before you know it you're mystically branding multiple sigils at once. The sudden success is so invigorating that you push yourself to new limits and reach a record of four at a time. *set apval 6 *gosub_scene quicks apboost In just two days you manage to bind all the heavier objects into fuuinjutsu tags to such an efficient degree that the speed of the caravan is able to pick up pace in between stops at small villages. When they do unload at the villages they're able to do so faster since the heavy furniture that usually requires multiple movers can be handled instead with a single strip of paper. It's not until your caravan sets up camp at a lake for the day that you see how important your work was. Another set of wagons approach with plentiful wounded guards, even wounded Martial Artists. They mingle with your own caravan and buy what medical supplies they can, warning of a massive boar Beast that attacked them. By Nohal's estimations, if you hadn't lightened the load of each wagon so immensely then your caravan would have been slowed down half a day. You would have run into the boar instead. *set commerce + 1 *else [b][Handseals 2 Check Failed][/b] *if (handseals = 0) Signing up for this task fills your mind with a singular thought. A single question. What the Hells is Fuuinjutsu? You spend most of the next week or two reading up on any books you can find and asking around for advice on this "Fuuinjutsu" business. Eventually you learn it's the most rudimentary Handseal and it converts mundane objects into smoke that binds into a rectangular strip of paper called a "seal tag". When you break the tag it's supposed to make the object appear again in a puff of smoke. It actually sounds entertaining and useful, so for most of the journey you try your best at enacting the right zodiac finger formations to make it happen. To your surprise, you actually pull it off and seal a clay jug of water into a seal tag. Pretty cool, you think to yourself, until you realize you were supposed to have been doing this to hundreds of objects by now. Maybe thousands. Oh well. One beats none. [b][Handseals +1][/b] *set handseals + 1 *gosub_scene quicks fuuinjutsudescription *else Fuuinjutsu is for small objects, so you bind the small objects. Easy peasy. Over the next week or so you sit in wagons and enact the right zodiac finger formations over pens, pots, prepared food, waterskins, tools, and the like. After a week has passed one of the caravanners asks where you're storing the seal tags for the barrels. *set solexp + 1 What a stupid question, you think to yourself, Fuuinjutsu can't seal heavy objects like a barrel. Then she sits with you for twenty minutes to gather enough ambient chi and actually pulls it off, sealing an entire barrel of sake into a single paper seal tag. Oh shit. You have definitely not been doing your job right. *page_break *goto boarattackohshidd *if (background != "Merchant") *selectable_if (((lore+perception) >= 3) and (handseals >= 2)) #Work around the soul oath to rob the caravan at night. *set honor - 5 *set metnohal 12000000000 After a week on the road you've gotten to understand where the [i]good[/i] goods are stored, and that's the wagon you're hiding in tonight. You'd like to personally thank the caravanner who loaded it up and didn't even notice the weight of the barrel you hid in. Now to deal with this troublesome soul-binding oath... [b][Lore + Perception 3 Check Passed][/b] Avoiding the consequences of a soul oath is difficult business. Without knowing every detail of the agreement it's not even supposed to be possible. Luckily, you read the contract well. It was needlessly lengthy but easy enough to understand. Next comes the hard part. *page_break [b][Handseals 2 Check Passed][/b] Your deft fingers enact the mystic handseals that allow you to temporarily avoid the results of your exact soul-binding contract by masking your spiritual signature. You feel lucky Dou Nohal missed a few clauses that should have covered this workaround, and even luckier that Magistrate Khan's contract with Mao [i]does[/i] have those clauses. Probably. ...You hope. But that's a problem for later. Now is the time to collect the goods. *page_break First thing's first, a coffer change. [b][Item Gained: 1200 Silver][/b] *set silver + 1200 *line_break [b][Item Gained: 200 Shards][/b] *set shards + 200 Next a key. From all the sales of cages and manacles made to so many towns you've learned one important detail: the Choral Line Sect made a bulk order of identical manacles and cages to sell, and they all use the same key shape. Most customers will have no idea that one key fits all, but you do. And that's why it'll work. Should you ever get in trouble around here, which you may seeing as you're a blatant criminal, this key could be your ticket out of jail. [b][Item Gained: Key][/b] *set infused 777 Now for the real goods. You carefully jiggle the lockboxes until you find three that are poorly secured and open them, seizing the yuzu spirit fruit from within and scarfing them down. No matter what happens now, you've got a surge of power that no one can take back. Heavens above, you're such a genius. [b][Aura Pressure +18][/b] *set aurapressure + 18 *set powspent 0 *set forspent 0 *set solspent 0 *set agispent 0 *set chispent 0 *line_break [b][All Cores and Chi Restored][/b] "Hey what're you doing here?" Asks one of the guards outside your wagon. Spinning around in a panic reveals nothing, the wagon rear door is still locked. Another voice speaks up. "I sensed something odd coming from inside the wagon, I think the spirit fruit containers need repairs." Someone else here can actually sense Aura Pressures?! You're supposed to be the only Martial Artist in the caravan! Oh Nohal you lying sack of- *page_break The door opens. Lantern light shines into lengthy wooden wagon when the rear door opens up. "See anything?" Asks one voice. *if (stealth >= 2) [b][Stealth 2 Check Passed][/b] *set agiexp + 2 "Nothing." Says another, stepping into the wagon and over the barrel you're hiding in. "Except I was right. We must have jostled the spirit fruit containers in transit...Oh Saint's tits, we're in trouble." "How bad?" Asks the voice from outside the wagon. "Have they gone rotten?" "Worse, they've gone. Period. Must be rats." Both voices sigh. "So...we just let some rats become Beasts." "Not if we adjust the inventory charts, then it never happened." Phew. When both of them leave for the night you slip out and sneak back to your own wagon with your ill-begotten gains. Mission accomplished. *else [b][Stealth 2 Check Failed][/b] *set agiexp + 1 "Uh...Yes." Says the second man, an Oni with stark white sideburns, as he enters the wagon and squints. "I see ${fullname}. ${heshe}'s hiding behind a barrel and staring at me. It's kind of creepy." Quick, think! You rise from behind the barrel casually and brush your shoulder off. "Good thing you came when you did, I just finished killing the rats." *if (deception >= 2) [b][Deception 2 Check Passed][/b] *set agiexp + 2 The oni in front closes his eyes and nods with a sigh of relief. "Aye, a minute sooner and we might be in trouble. Did the rats gain any special abilities from eating the spirit fruit?" "Just got bigger." You lie, going with the easiest option. The one in the back looks around. "Well...where are the corpses? We'll need to write this off and the higher ups will want proof." "I ate them, for the spirit fruit in their bellies." The oni looks to the man outside the wagon and back. "You...Young *if (heshe = "he") master, *else mistress, you're saying you ate giant chi-infused rats? In sparse moments, whole and raw?" You force out a burp. "Cultivation isn't cheap." "I...would like to go back to my wagon." Says the one in back, face growing green. The oni agrees. The three of you separate and the next morning they back up your story. *else [b][Deception 2 Check Failed][/b] "Why is that a good thing?" Asks the caravanner in back. "Huh?" What's he getting at? "Why is it a good thing that we came? If you killed the rats, why would it matter if we showed up?" "Uh...Because, I-" *choice #Attack them. [Flee the caravan] *set metnohal 13000000000 In the thrill of the moment you attack the two caravanners who discovered you robbing the caravan. [b][Infamy Increased][/b] *set infamy + 3 They both crumple immediately. One backhand to the face and one kick to the forehead leaves two normal mortals on the ground, unmoving. *if (ruthless < 56) You hope they're not dead. Either way, there's *else There's no going back now. Before anyone else shows up you wrap your ill-gotten gains and leap from the caravan, sprinting into the darkness of the tall grass that the caravan's currently traversing. *page_break Days later you've grown used to sleeping outside again, only to prove yourself wrong when temptation strikes. The journey to Nanhou has taken you by a larger town built on the border of a forest to the north and a massive plain to the south that its filled with fields of ramie Inside large wooden walls is a civilization the size of Thunderfall, complete with at least a hundred buildings and multistory shops. Judging by the size and stability of this location it must have its own Sect, but your eyes are taken more by the market square filled with several visiting merchant caravans at once. Thankfully none are Dou Nohal's. *page_break *goto shopintown #Put the possessions back. You hold both hands up in surrender. "Alright alright, can't blame a *if (heshe = "he") guy *else girl for trying." You take the Shards and Silver out of your pockets, keeping the key, and drop the pouches back into the open coffer nearby. [b][Item Lost: 1200 Silver][/b] *set silver - 1200 *line_break [b][Item Lost: 200 Shards][/b] *set shards - 200 The man in front walks over to the coffer and looks through both pouches, then back to his partner. "We should report this to Dou Nohal." From the back you see the other caravanner shake his head. "Report that the only Martial Artist in the caravan should be arrested? Good luck with that, I like my limbs working. As far as I'm concerned, no missing inventory means no robbery." "Smart man." You say as the one in front starts to sweat, realizing that he's already within striking range. Tentatively, you separate to your own wagons and forget this ever happened. Damn it all, that would have been a great heist. You wish Kosuke was here. *page_break *goto boarattackohshidd *if (background = "Merchant") #Fix inventory charts, synergize deal offers, and adjust local prices. [Requires Merchant Background] *set metnohal 15000000000 By the Heavenly Dao and the Saints who serve it, who WRITES this stuff?! The caravan's paperwork is in total disarray and their contents are even worse. Three for the price of one on long-lasting goods like pear wine just because it didn't sell well in a couple towns?! You know those towns, they have their [i]own pear orchards[/i], yet simultaneously there's no such offers on perishables(?!?!) like the crates of actual pears that will go bad in days? Idiots! Buffoons! Illiterate inbreds! Deals are supposed to offload temporary product and get customers to keep looking around for more deals, that way they accidentally find full-cost products they like while perusing. They're NOT to unload regional long-lasting product in the WRONG REGION! Gah! GAH!! Only your Fortitude Core prevents a total aneurysm when reading these inventory charts. Oh Heavens, you think you're going to throw-up at the next line. Who bought two wagons worth of bedding supplies to sell at the empire's most esteemed Martial Arts competition where the wealthy will be trying to look tough?! That's where you'll sell the [i]least[/i] goosefeather pillows! If Father were here he might generate an aura purely out of rage. You spend the next week-long journey locked in one wagon, inked quill in hand, going over charts and orders to fix the grotesque abomination that Dou Nohal's administrators have been wrongfully calling a merchant caravan. *set commerce + 3 *if not (jadedragonfoundation) *achieve moneymaker *page_break *gosub_scene quicks timepass "By the miserly eyes of my Ancestors!" Dou Nohal exclaims as his *if (underlings > 0) (and your) underlings pack up the wagons after another day of business and he reads through the sales scrolls. "I can't believe these numbers. After your changes and [i]price increases[/i] we've had a sixteen percent growth in sales across the last three towns! How do you do it?" *set nohalrep + 10 [b][Item Gained: 50 Shards][/b] *set shards + 50 "Four towns." You say casually, eyes blindfolded from the sun as your head reclines on a wagon's front cushion. "We didn't sell more in Littlebridge." "Well Littlebridge was being held hostage by a marauding Storm Sect, it hardly counts." "It could've if we paid their toll." Dou Nohal waves a hand at you dismissively while one of his underlings brings you both a wineskin. "Nonsense! I'll bow to your wisdom on financial organization, but no one can tell a face better than Dou Nohal!" "And what did their faces tell you?" "That they would have attacked the second they realized we only had one Martial Artist." Heh...Probably. "Speaking of, aren't we meeting up with reinforcements soon?" *label nohalspeech Dou Nohal rubs his nose. "Oh that, well..." "Nohal..." You don't like when merchants put on an act. Mostly because that's your job. "It's just..." "Nohal! Reinforcements, yes or no?" He takes a long inhale and leans against the wagon in defeat. "I'd say it's more like replacements than reinforcements. The Choral Line Sect's letters arrived by crow, they were concerned that I was employing foreign mercenaries at first, quite typical of them. However when I calmly explained that it was one of our shareholders they saw things differently." You lift the blindfold and look down at Nohal from your wagon. "Differently how?" He scratches the back of his head with a giant, eyes-closed grin. "Livid! Absolutely livid, apparently if you die while protecting a caravan it looks like 'an assassination' to 'stop paying our investors'" He motions with air quotes at both phrases sarcastically. "If you ask me, it looks like an owner being a good leader! Ah well. It seems I've brought great dishonor to our Ancestors or some-such rubbish." "Sounds rough, how fired are you?" "Fair to moderate, my good ${manwoman}, fair to moderate. I can keep all my responsibilities and position, as well as sixty percent of my current profit share." Oof. "As for you, we're meeting reinforcements at the next town at which time you will become exceedingly fired. Please accept my condolences." "I'll [i]accept[/i] my share of the profits." "Ah." He smiles the fakest smile you've ever seen. "Aha, of course. My mistake." Hesitantly and carefully, as if it pains him, Dou removes two pouches from his belt and hands them to you. One peak inside raises your spirits. [b][Item Gained: 250 Shards][/b] *set shards + 250 *line_break [b][Advancement Elixir: +40 Aura Pressure][/b] *set aurapressure + 40 *set workfordou 2 *set powspent 0 *set forspent 0 *set solspent 0 *set agispent 0 *set chispent 0 *line_break [b][All Cores and Chi Restored][/b] *page_break The next morning you awake to the caravan already laid out in the market square of a large town surrounded by walls hosting several other merchant caravans simultaneously. All you can see beyond the walls is that there's forests to the north and not a tree in sight to the south, likely where they keep the farms. The many sideroads and larger buildings remind you of Thunderfall and, judging by the latent feeling of Aura Pressures, you're certain this town has its own Sect. Or at the least it has Dou Nohal's reinforcements, seeing as no one woke you up to get any work done. It seems you're finally on your own again. *goto shopintown *label Next_stylin *page_break *gosub_scene quicks timepass *if (background = "Merchant") "Great news, my friend!" Dou Nohal shouts into your wagon one morning. Through your sleeping blindfold you can't help but notice that the wagons are moving, the portly man must have jogged alongside while yelling at you. "You can finally let your guard down at the next town!" "Why?" You ask. "Are we finally getting reinforcements?" *goto nohalspeech *else At the next stop the caravan sets up in a market square of a larger town built on the border of a forest to the north and massive fields of ramie to the south. Judging by the plentiful buildings and sideroads all surrounded by thick wooden walls you get the impression this town actually has a Sect, which would explain why three other caravans are already stationed in its town center. "Might I recommend some shopping?" Dou Nohal asks as you both dismount from your wagon in the safety of the town's market square. "Especially since you're free for the day." "The day?" "Well, free for the rest of the journey. It seems we part ways here, as the Choral Line Sect's Martial Artists are waiting for me in the tavern and we're not to use mercenaries when unnecessary." "So that's it? The reinforcements get here and my contract's meaningless?" "Oh no, it was quite binding for both parties. Your contract is not voided, it is [i]complete[/i]. Thank you for your assistance and so on and some such." He withdraws two pouches from his belt and tosses them to you. "Half your earnings won't be in Shards but something a bit rarer thanks to the Trials. I made sure to procure it just for you, a personal touch by yours truly." You catch the pouches and peak inside, mood lifting at the sight of the crystalline vial. *if (race = "Human") [b][Item Gained: 220 Shards][/b] *set shards + 220 *elseif (race = "Oni") [b][Item Gained: 130 Shards][/b] *set shards + 130 *else [b][Item Gained: 175 Shards][/b] *set shards + 175 *line_break [b][Advancement Elixir: +30 Aura Pressure][/b] *set aurapressure + 30 *set powspent 0 *set forspent 0 *set solspent 0 *set agispent 0 *set chispent 0 *line_break [b][All Cores and Chi Restored][/b] Consuming the elixir instantly fills your body with an empowering glow. Rushed cultivation in the past has always felt like your body and soul being painfully stretched passed its limit, but your Aura Pressure of ${aurapressure} processes this high-grade elixir painlessly with a sense of total invigoration like you'd just taken the greatest rest of your life and you're ready for a brand-new day. "Incredible." You exclaim, looking down at your hands and feeling the power rush through your body and soul. "My power's growing but it doesn't hurt a bit." Dou Nohal looks to the sky abashedly, as if trying to distract himself. When he can no longer hold it in his gaze is still on the clouds, awkwardly refusing to look you in the eye as he speaks. "Advancement Elixirs are not supposed to hurt." "Oh." You're struck with the possibility that every Outer West refiner may be bad at their jobs. *page_break *label shopintown Before heading off to Nanhou you decide to check through the multiple shops and stalls in town to restock on supplies. *if (firsttime) Oddly it's the alchemist's stalls that are the busiest, abuzz with gossip and chatter. Whatever they're selling, it must be good. *set firsttime false *choice #Convert currencies to Shards. Many of the caravans are happy to convert your currency for you. It's almost a miracle actually, some of the visiting caravans need unpowered coinage to reduce their spiritual presence on the road. It seems they've made too many Shards. *choice *selectable_if (silver >= 10) #Convert silver to Shards. "Hmm yes these seem to be real." Says the elderly reptile yokai man, crouching and eyeing your silver through a looking glass. "It takes 10 Silver to equal 1 Shard. How many Silver would you like to convert?" Current Silver: ${silver} *input_number conversion 0 silver *set bingo (conversion modulo 10) *set conversion - bingo *set silver - conversion *set shards + (conversion / 10) *selectable_if (gold >= 1) #Convert gold to Shards. "Heavens I love the shine of proper gold." Says the Lunargothic woman working the coffers at one of the merchant caravans. "But down to business, 1 Gold is worth 10 Shards. How many Gold are you looking to hand over?" Current Gold: ${gold} *input_number conversion 0 gold *set gold - conversion *set shards + (conversion * 10) #Nevermind. *goto shopintown *goto shopintown *if (alchbanned = false) #Visit the alchemy refiners. *label Next_apothecary Three entire wagons of one of the merchant caravans are all connected together and surrounded with sturdy tables pitted with circular inch-deep indents. Inside most of those indents are bottles, and you realize the indents in the table are to keep the potions stable like some sort of built-in vial holder. Clever, you think to yourself, no merchant caravan needs their refined concoctions exploding in the middle of a market square. Most of the inventory is common enough, though you notice that the poison prices are exuberant. Not a good sign if so many people are buying poison on the road to the Trials. *if (memorywell = 0) A few items do catch your eye however: three different alchemical recipes and a strange glowing vial labeled as a "Memorywell Elixir". *choice *selectable_if (((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 9) #Purchase Alchemy Reagents. [9 Shards] How many would you like to purchase? *set bingo (((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) modulo 9) *set bingo ((((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) - bingo) / 9) *input_number val 0 bingo *if (val > 0) *set alchemyreagents + val [b][Item Gained: ${val} Alchemy Reagents][/b] *set shards - (val * 9) *set val 0 *set bingo 0 *selectable_if (alchemyreagents > 0) #Sell Alchemy Reagents. *set bingo (4 + persuasion) *if (bingo > 9) *set bingo 9 The alchemist's apprentice looks through your collection of dried plants, liquids, and mineral powders. "If my Master's charts are right, judging by the quality I see here I can give you ${bingo} Shards for each." How many would you like to sell? (Currently Owned: ${alchemyreagents} *input_number val 0 alchemyreagents *if (val > 0) *set alchemyreagents - val [b][Item Lost: ${val} Alchemy Reagents][/b] *line_break *set bingo * val [b][Item Gained: ${bingo} Shards][/b] *set shards + bingo *set val 0 *set bingo 0 *selectable_if ((((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 100) and (healingelixir <= 3)) #Purchase a Healing Elixir. [100 Shards] [b][Item Gained: Healing Elixir][/b] *set healingelixir + 1 *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 100 *selectable_if ((((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 50) and (lgagipill < 2)) #Purchase a Low Grade Agility Pill. [50 Shards] [b][Item Gained: Low Grade Agility Pill][/b] *set lgagipill + 1 *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 50 *selectable_if ((((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 50) and (lgpowpill < 2)) #Purchase a Low Grade Power Pill. [50 Shards] [b][Item Gained: Low Grade Power Pill][/b] *set lgpowpill + 1 *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 50 *selectable_if ((((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 50) and (lgforpill < 2)) #Purchase a Low Grade Fortitude Pill. [50 Shards] [b][Item Gained: Low Grade Fortitude Pill][/b] *set lgforpill + 1 *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 50 *selectable_if ((((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 40) and (lgsolpill < 2)) #Purchase a Low Grade Soul Pill. [40 Shards] [b][Item Gained: Low Grade Soul Pill][/b] *set lgsolpill + 1 *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 40 *selectable_if (((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 40) #Purchase a Common Poison. [40 Shards] [b][Item Gained: Common Poison][/b] *set commonpoison + 1 *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 40 *selectable_if ((((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 60) and (lgsolpillrecipe = 100)) #Purchase a Recipe (Low Grade Soul Pill) [60 Shards] [b][Alchemy Recipe Unlocked: Low Grade Soul Pill][/b] *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 60 *set lgsolpillrecipe (6 - alchemy) *selectable_if ((((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 55) and (lgagipillrecipe = 100)) #Purchase a Recipe (Low Grade Agility Pill) [55 Shards] [b][Alchemy Recipe Unlocked: Low Grade Agility Pill][/b] *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 55 *set lgagipillrecipe (6 - alchemy) *selectable_if ((((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 99) and (replenisherpillrecipe = 100)) #Purchase a Recipe (Replenisher Pill) [99 Shards] [b][Alchemy Recipe Unlocked: Replenisher Pill][/b] *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 99 *set replenisherpillrecipe (10 - alchemy) *selectable_if ((memorywell = 0) and (memdrank = false)) #Inspect the Memorywell Elixir [???] "Excuse me." You call out to the clerk, a young woman in subtle makeup with white hair in a braid and the red skin of an Oni. "What's this elixir do?" You point to a vial of what looks to be rice wine. The clerk's face lights up. "Ah!" The Oni woman exclaims. "You have an eye for the niche and exotic! This refined miracle is a Memorywell Elixir, straight from the Mystic Lands! The white Ancestor Lillies needed to brew its unique composition are quite rare. They say the completed elixir opens the imbiber's spirit up to a connection with nature akin to months or even years worth of study in Shugendō." Your blood freezes. There's no way something could give you such a power without an extraordinary price, but to get such an advantage could tip the scales at the Trials... "How much?" You ask. "Three hundred Shards, but there's a catch...the imbiber must have been in a Gate of the Element in question. It locates, refines, expands, and stabilizes the elemental Aura Pressure that must already be inside the imbiber's spirit. Without it, no connection can be made." Shockingly that's not a problem. You've been in three Gates in your life. Most recently the Heavenly Storm Gate, but when you think back on your first Advancement atop a mountain path there was power swirling all over from the sky and the ground. It must have been a Heavenly Earth and Wind Gate. Plus the horrendous blizzard you camped in when you were even younger that turned out to be a Heavenly Ice Gate. Yet the cost for this potion is so high... *label memwellpurchase *choice *if (memhaggled) *disable_reuse *selectable_if (((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 80) #Pay the 80 Shards. You hand over the discounted funds for the miracle elixir and take the potion with glee. "Pleasure doing business with you." *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 80 "Get out." The clerk growls with arms crossed. *else *disable_reuse *selectable_if (((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 300) #Pay the 300 Shards. *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 300 *set honor + 5 *set prestige + 2 You pay the full actual cost of the miracle elixir and see the clerk's eyes light up with glee. "Thank you very much for your patronage!" She bows five times and you see several other shoppers stare at you wide-eyed that you just paid the full asking price. [b][Prestige Increased][/b] *disable_reuse #"What needs to be done to bring that price down?" [Lore+Persuasion] *if ((persuasion + lore) >= 3) Examining the refined elixir gives you a solution to your issue. You look up to the clerk and ask the rhetorical. "What needs to be done to bring that price down?" "Excuse me?" She asks. "What needs to be done? I'm not asking if we can bring the price down, obviously we can, but what do you need from me to bring down the price?" *if (heshe = "he") "Young Master, *else "Young Mistress, I'm afraid this price is set in stone." "Well clearly not." You reply. "Someone paid nothing for it." The clerk pauses, staring quizzically at you for some time. "I'm afraid I don't follow." "The Mystical Lands uses two seals for commerce." You point to the bottle's stopper, a small wax seal on its center. "One for creation, and one to confirm the creator's sale. It's an anti-theft practice. This seal is only half done, so someone stole this from the Mystic Lands." "No I...that's impossible, we purchased this on the high seas near Outer South." "From a thief." You finish. "Do the guards and the local Sect know you're fencing stolen goods?" "I-! That's not!" She looks around wide-eyed, jaw tight, and pulls you in closer. "Look, I can sell it for 80 but any less than that and my Master will be missing funds on the ledger, which is worse than anything the guards will do to me. Take the deal or just go." *set memhaggled true *goto memwellpurchase *else Examining the refined elixir buys some time while you consider a haggle topic. You look up to the clerk and ask the rhetorical. "What needs to be done to bring that price down?" "Nothing." "Oh?" "Indeed!" She announces cheerily. "The price is already down to its lowest for such a high value item. Three hundred shards. I do not even have the authority to haggle prices on this grade of an elixir." Damn it all. *goto memwellpurchase *if (background = "Merchant") #"As the $!{patriarch} of Clan ${clan} I'll be taking out a line of credit for this purchase." [Merchant Background] You withdraw a prepared contract scroll and slap it onto the table. "As the $!{patriarch} of Clan ${clan} I'll be taking out a line of credit for this purchase." The clerk gasps at the Clan Head insignia of a Warrior Caste document and bows four times. "Please forgive me, I was unaware I was in the presence of a Warrior Clan leader! I'll fill in the details for this right away." "In triplicate." You add, taking the potion while the clerk handles the technicalities of your new debt. While having negative money is never good for the coffers, as long as you can make the payments you've now established your Clan as someone worth doing business with. *if (memhaggled) *set debt 80 *set debtnote +100000000 [b][80 Debt Gained][/b] *line_break [b][Clan Commerce Increased][/b] *set commerce + 1 *else *set debt 300 *set debtnote +10000000 [b][300 Debt Gained][/b] *line_break [b][Clan Prestige Increased][/b] *set prestige + 1 *disable_reuse #"I'd like to put this on the Thunderfall Sect's line of credit, under Master Crusher Mao." *if (((race = "Oni") and (deception >= 2)) or (deception >= 3)) *if (race = "Oni") [b][Oni Comraderie Event - Difficulty Reduced][/b] *line_break [b][Deception 2 Check Succeeded][/b] *else [b][Deception 3 Check Succeeded][/b] *set agiexp + 1 "I'd like to put this on the Thunderfall Sect's tab, under Master Crusher Mao." Heh. The woman's eyebrows rise. "By the stars, the Thunderfall Sect of the central mountains? Do you have permission to sign on the Master's behalf?" "Of course I do." You reply with a straight face, feigning insult. "The Trials are upon us, naturally all the Master's star pupils have access to his treasury in search of advantage." Heheh. "My sincere apologies!" Says the clerk, bowing three times. "I did not know I was in the presence of one of the Master Mao's prized pupils!" She withdraws a contract and wraps the Memorywell Elixir neatly in purple cloth for you. "Please sign here and we'll send the bill to the Glorious Master." Heheheheh. You sign the paper with the barest hint of a smile, allocating the hefty debt over to Crusher Mao's residency in Thunderfall Village where he won't even see it until after the Trials. *set sect_thunderfall - 5 *else *if (race = "Human") [b][Deception 2 Check Failed][/b] *else [b][Deception 3 Check Failed][/b] "I'd like to put this on the Thunderfall Sect's tab, under Master Crusher Mao." Heh. "A hundred apologies *if (heshe = "he") Young Master, *else Young Mistress, but we have dealt with the Thunderfall Sect many times and would recognize anyone with the authority to sign on Master Mao's behalf." Damn it all. *goto memwellpurchase *disable_reuse #Swap the elixir that looks like rice wine with a vial of actual rice wine. "Fascinating, most fascinating." You say, swiping a less-guarded empty vial and walking off to the nearby tavern. Ten minutes of waiting for a servant boy gets the result you want, ordering a rice wine quietly in the corner while reading some Path Manual notes to avoid suspicion alone. After pouring the rice wine into your empty vial you return to the alchemy stall and wait. When another customer shows up and inquires about a recipe you strike, examining the potion in one hand, shaking your head, and putting it down just after switching it with your rice wine vial. *if ((stealth + thievery) >= 4) [b][Stealth + Thievery 4 Check Succeeded][/b] *set agiexp + 1 As you walk off with the valuable elixir you wonder why anyone pays for anything. *else [b][Stealth + Thievery 4 Check Failed][/b] "Thief!" Shouts the alchemy clerk behind you. [b][i]"CHASM HUNTER!"[/i][/b] Shouts a guard by the well, and the air hums with the power of a Technique. Before you can act both your legs are sucked into the ground at a rapid pace, taking your body with them until only your head is left above the ground. "Guardsman, this is all a mistake!" You say as a four guards appear before you. A tingle between your shoulders lets you know you're being spiritually scanned. That's when you realize such a potent elixir probably has its own aura...which confirms you've taken it. The guards take turns kicking you in the head until the sweet release of unconsciousness takes hold. *set apval 5 *gosub_scene quicks aploss [b][You have been banned from the Alchemy Stalls!][/b] Waking up in the compost pile with a fat lip is not the mid-day greeting you wanted out of life. *set alchbanned true *goto shopintown *if ((element1 = "Light") or (element2 = "Light")) *selectable_if (((chipool + (soul / 2)) - chispent) >= 1) #Cast an illusion over the potion as you take it away. [Cost 1 Chi] As you reach for the potion you pause for a second, second guessing yourself. To the outside observer. In reality you get close enough that the potion is inside of your aura, where it's easier to affect changes to Light without getting caught. If you cast a Light Technique forty feet away anyone can sense it, but you always seem like Light chi anyway. No change registers in anyone's spiritual perception as you work your illusion. While the potion is within your close range you cast an illusion over yourself of standing still and thinking, when in reality you lift the potion up and place it into your satchel. At the same time you cast an illusory affect that should last hours over the empty slot where the potion once was. [b][1 Chi Spent][/b] *set chispent - 1 You shake your head. "No no, that price is absurd." You tell yourself, and leave with no suspicion cast upon you. #Go back. *goto Next_apothecary *page_break *if (((((element1 = "None") or (element1 != "Earth")) or (element1 != "Wind")) or (element1 != "Ice")) or (((element1 != "Storm") and (element2 != "Storm")) and ((element2 = "") or (element1 = "None")))) *goto drink_memorywell *else *set memorywell + 1 [b][Yin Element and Yang Element Already Assigned!][/b] *line_break [b][Item Added to Inventory: Memorywell Elixir][/b] *goto shopintown #Go back. *goto shopintown *goto Next_apothecary #Browse the cultivation stalls for Path Manuals. *label cultibooks The most important stalls, in your eyes, are the merchants selling Spiritual Cultivation material. You pass by dozens of baubles and elixirs that promise health and positive karma to their imbibers, a fair amount of creative feng shui furniture, acceptable training equipment, scrolls on philosophical teachings, and a hundred charms that aid in ambient chi cultivation. They're all garbage. The good stuff is four stalls down, near the town's well. You can tell because it's guarded with six Martial Artists in white combat gi. When you approach the stall your estimation proves correct: it holds the Path Manuals for dozens upon dozens of Techniques. Many require other Techniques, certain Styles, certain Elements, or years to master. After minutes of window shopping you've recognized the ones that serve as faster-learning Soul Treasure Path Manuals and then narrowed down that list even further, pinpointing the ones that fit into your current Path. [b]Fading Hand[/b] - Increases Thievery by +1 when focused. Increases Agility Surge by +1 when focused. *line_break [b]Axe Breaker[/b] - Increases Survival by +1 when focused. Increases Fortitude Surge by +1 when focused. *line_break [b]Eagle Eye[/b] - Increases Perception by +1 when focused. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused. *line_break [b]Doublechant[/b] - Passively decreases the cost of Seals by 1 Ritual Component. Increases Soul Surge by +1 when focused. *if ((element1 = "Darkness") or (element2 = "Darkness")) *line_break [b]Midnight Blade[/b] - Requires Darkness Element. Power Technique. Increases Aura Pressure by 15. Increases Soul Surge by +1 when focused. *if ((element1 = "Earth") or (element2 = "Earth")) *line_break [b]Sandshield[/b] - Requires Earth Element. Agility Technique. Increases Aura Pressure by 15. Increases Fortitude Surge by +1 when focused. *if ((element1 = "Fire") or (element2 = "Fire")) *line_break [b]Inferno[/b] - Requires Fire Element. Soul Technique. Increases Aura Pressure by 15. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused. *if ((element1 = "Ice") or (element2 = "Ice")) *line_break [b]Frostguard[/b] - Requires Ice Element. Power Technique. Increases Aura Pressure by 15. Increases Fortitude Surge by +1 when focused. *if ((element1 = "Light") or (element2 = "Light")) *line_break [b]Searing Light[/b] - Requires Light Element. Power Technique. Increases Aura Pressure by 15. Increases Soul Surge by +1 when focused. *if ((element1 = "Storm") or (element2 = "Storm")) *line_break [b]Shockblast[/b] - Requires Storm Element. Agility Technique. Increases Aura Pressure by 15. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused. *if ((element1 = "Water") or (element2 = "Water")) *line_break [b]Wavewalking[/b] - Requires Water Element. Soul Technique. Increases Aura Pressure by 15. Increases Agility Surge by +1 when focused. *if ((element1 = "Wind") or (element2 = "Wind")) *line_break [b]Grand Skyfall[/b] - Requires Wind Element. Fortitude Technique. Increases Aura Pressure by 15. Increases Agility Surge by +1 when focused. *choice *disable_reuse *selectable_if (((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 100) #The "Fading Hand" Freestyle Technique [100 Shards] *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 100 *gosub_scene quicks learntech 3630060000000000 "Fading Hand" "Increases Thievery by +1 when focused. Increases Agility Surge by +1 when focused." *if (techslotcode[3] = 0000000000000000) [b][Agility Core focused on the "Fading Hand" Technique][/b] *gosub_scene quicks focuscore "Fading Hand" 3630060000000000 *disable_reuse *selectable_if (((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 100) #The "Axe Breaker" Freestyle Technique [90 Shards] *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 90 *gosub_scene quicks learntech 2620050000000000 "Axe Breaker" "Increases Survival by +1 when focused. Increases Fortitude Surge by +1 when focused." *if (techslotcode[2] = 0000000000000000) [b][Fortitude Core focused on the "Axe Breaker" Technique][/b] *gosub_scene quicks focuscore "Axe Breaker" 2620050000000000 *disable_reuse *selectable_if (((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 100) #The "Doublechant" Freestyle Technique [85 Shards] *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 85 *gosub_scene quicks learntech 4140000000100000 "Doublechant" "Passively reduces the cost of Seals by 1 Component. Increases Soul Surge by +1 when focused." *if (techslotcode[4] = 0000000000000000) [b][Soul Core focused on the "Doublechant" Technique][/b] *gosub_scene quicks focuscore "Doublechant" 4140000000100000 *disable_reuse *selectable_if (((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 100) #The "Eagle Eye" Freestyle Technique [90 Shards] *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 90 *gosub_scene quicks learntech 1610020000000000 "Eagle Eye" "Increases Perception by +1 when focused. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused." *if (techslotcode[1] = 0000000000000000) [b][Power Core focused on the "Eagle Eye" Technique][/b] *gosub_scene quicks focuscore "Eagle Eye" 1610020000000000 *if ((element1 = "Darkness") or (element2 = "Darkness")) *disable_reuse *selectable_if (((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 100) #The "Midnight Blade" Darkness Technique [110 Shards] *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 110 *gosub_scene quicks learntech 1140000030000000 "Midnight Blade" "Passively increases Aura Pressure by +15. Increases Soul Surge by +1 when focused." *if (techslotcode[1] = 0000000000000000) [b][Power Core focused on the "Midnight Blade" Technique][/b] *gosub_scene quicks focuscore "Midnight Blade" 1140000020000000 *if ((element1 = "Earth") or (element2 = "Earth")) *disable_reuse *selectable_if (((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 100) #The "Sandshield" Earth Technique [110 Shards] *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 110 *gosub_scene quicks learntech 3120000030000000 "Sandshield" "Passively increases Aura Pressure by +15. Increases Fortitude Surge by +1 when focused." *if (techslotcode[3] = 0000000000000000) [b][Agility Core focused on the "Sandshield" Technique][/b] *gosub_scene quicks focuscore "Sandshield" 3120000020000000 *if ((element1 = "Fire") or (element2 = "Fire")) *disable_reuse *selectable_if (((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 100) #The "Inferno" Fire Technique [110 Shards] *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 110 *gosub_scene quicks learntech 4110000030000000 "Inferno" "Passively increases Aura Pressure by +15. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused." *if (techslotcode[4] = 0000000000000000) [b][Soul Core focused on the "Inferno" Technique][/b] *gosub_scene quicks focuscore "Inferno" 4110000020000000 *if ((element1 = "Ice") or (element2 = "Ice")) *disable_reuse *selectable_if (((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 100) #The "Frostguard" Ice Technique [110 Shards] *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 110 *gosub_scene quicks learntech 1120000030000000 "Frostguard" "Passively increases Aura Pressure by +15. Increases Fortitude Surge by +1 when focused." *if (techslotcode[1] = 0000000000000000) [b][Power Core focused on the "Frostguard" Technique][/b] *gosub_scene quicks focuscore "Frostguard" 1120000020000000 *if ((element1 = "Light") or (element2 = "Light")) *disable_reuse *selectable_if (((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 100) #The "Searing Light" Light Technique [110 Shards] *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 110 *gosub_scene quicks learntech 1140000030000000 "Searing Light" "Passively increases Aura Pressure by +15. Increases Soul Surge by +1 when focused." *if (techslotcode[1] = 0000000000000000) [b][Power Core focused on the "Searing Light" Technique][/b] *gosub_scene quicks focuscore "Searing Light" 1140000020000000 *if ((element1 = "Storm") or (element2 = "Storm")) *disable_reuse *selectable_if (((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 100) #The "Shockblast" Storm Technique [110 Shards] *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 110 *gosub_scene quicks learntech 3110000030000000 "Shockblast" "Passively increases Aura Pressure by +15. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused." *if (techslotcode[3] = 0000000000000000) [b][Agility Core focused on the "Shockblast" Technique][/b] *gosub_scene quicks focuscore "Shockblast" 3110000020000000 *if ((element1 = "Water") or (element2 = "Water")) *disable_reuse *selectable_if (((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 100) #The "Wavewalking" Water Technique [110 Shards] *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 110 *gosub_scene quicks learntech 4130000030000000 "Wavewalking" "Passively increases Aura Pressure by +15. Increases Agility Surge by +1 when focused." *if (techslotcode[4] = 0000000000000000) [b][Soul Core focused on the "Wavewalking" Technique][/b] *gosub_scene quicks focuscore "Wavewalking" 4130000020000000 *if ((element1 = "Wind") or (element2 = "Wind")) *disable_reuse *selectable_if (((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 100) #The "Grand Skyfall" Wind Technique [110 Shards] *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 110 *gosub_scene quicks learntech 2130000030000000 "Grand Skyfall" "Passively increases Aura Pressure by +15. Increases Agility Surge by +1 when focused." *if (techslotcode[2] = 0000000000000000) [b][Fortitude Core focused on the "Grand Skyfall" Technique][/b] *gosub_scene quicks focuscore "Grand Skyfall" 2130000020000000 #Go back. *goto shopintown *goto cultibooks #Visit the mortal clothier's. It's not until you reach one particular stall that you actually stop and stare as if noticing something for the first time: clothes. The stall before you is lined with over a dozen wardrobes encircling one wagon. Customers browse through the colorful assortment of options and chatter to each other with smiles on their faces. There's even curtains lined up to change in peace, with ladies trying on kimono and lunargothic dress and men donning different gi and some more bizarre pant and shirt combinations. In the back a seamstress is removing the empowered lining from a Martial Artist's gi and applying it to their new clothing, a process you didn't know existed. None of these will aid you in battle, but by the Heavens, some could certainly aid you in style. *comment I know what you're thinking. "Author-kun, isn't this a completely useless choice? Aren't you wasting our time with this?" *comment And the answer may surprise you. *comment It's "Yes." *choice *selectable_if ((((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 20) and ({wardrobe#2} = 0)) #Purchase the red and gold Cathayan hanfu. [20 Shards] *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 20 The Cathayans of the past left much to your people's culture and among those the most stylish are the hanfu, alternative combat robes preferred by the Sacred Lands and Mystic Lands. The one you've chosen is a crisp mix of red and gold with black inlay. It does nothing to restrict your movements and does everything to exude a sense of majesty. Worth every Shard. *set clothes "red and gold Cathayan hanfu" *set clothnum 2 *set wardrobe + 10000000000000 *if (heshe = "he") *selectable_if ((((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 17) and ({wardrobe#3} = 0)) #Purchase the orange and black haori. [17 Shards] *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 17 Donning the orange and black haori jacket makes you feel [i]crisp[/i]. You are not travelling all the way to Nanhou for lethal Trials designed by monstrously strong Martial Artists just to look like a chump. You're representing the ${clan} Clan and by the Heavens you're going to look good doing it. *set clothes "orange and black haori" *set clothnum 3 *set wardrobe + 1000000000000 *if (heshe = "he") *selectable_if ((((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 16) and ({wardrobe#4} = 0)) #Purchase the white and black hakama. [16 Shards] *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 16 Traditional garb is best when representing your region to the Inner Kingdoms and Imperial Family. You don a hakama with a white top and black bottom to keep flexibility without having to dress like some of the other slobs you've seen on the road. *set clothes "white and black hakama" *set clothnum 4 *set wardrobe + 100000000000 *if (heshe = "she") *selectable_if ((((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 16) and ({wardrobe#5} = 0)) #Purchase the white and red hakama. [16 Shards] *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 16 Traditional garb is best when representing your region to the Inner Kingdoms and Imperial Family. Going with a white and red hakama similar to the priestess miko robes will give you flexibility without sacrificing dignity. *set clothes "white and red hakama" *set clothnum 5 *set wardrobe + 10000000000 *if (heshe = "she") *selectable_if ((((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 18) and ({wardrobe#6} = 0)) #Purchase the blue and pink yukata with crane and flowers design. [18 Shards] *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 18 If you're going to compete against thousands of other Martial Artists you're going to do it in style. After changing behind some curtains you come out wearing a gorgeous lightweight yukata with matching obi. Not to your surprise, you attract the applause of several local villagers. *set clothes "blue and pink flowery yukata" *set clothnum 6 *set wardrobe + 1000000000 *selectable_if ((((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 10) and ({wardrobe#7} = 0)) #Purchase the brown travel cloak and large straw hat. [10 Shards] *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 10 Keeping a low profile is more important than showing off so you select the most common outfit, a brown travel cloak covering your whole body and a wide strawhat to protect from the sun. The roads of your journey are littered with Martial Artists, making sure you make it to Nanhou at all is your main priority. *set clothes "brown cloak and straw hat" *set clothnum 7 *set wardrobe + 100000000 *selectable_if ((((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 15) and ({wardrobe#8} = 0)) #Purchase the baggy white tobi pants and a black small-sleave shirt. [15 Shards] *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 15 If Mother and Father saw you wearing something so ridiculous they'd smack the back of your head. However, you've grown in strength to the point that you wouldn't even feel it, and with that strength comes the freedom to dress however you want. Even if that means you're wearing a carpenter's baggy pants with a shinobi's undershirt. It's not your fault no one else can understand true fashion. *set clothes "white tobi pants and black shirt" *set clothnum 8 *set wardrobe + 10000000 #This is a waste of time. [Leave] Forget this, clothes are only important to *if (heshe = "she") fops and brats. *else women and fops. You've got more important things to do. *page_break *goto shopintown *selectable_if ((((((wounds > 0) or (powspent > 0)) or (agispent > 0)) or (forspent > 0)) or (solspent > 0)) and (((shards + (silver / 10)) + (gold * 10)) >= 15)) #Visit the rejuvenating healing springs. [15 Shards] *gosub_scene quicks costcalc 15 It's odd to hear that such a large farming town has a healing spring, where would they even hide it? You're far from the mountains. Still, mystical healing isn't an offer you can turn down. You follow the road signs to the mystical healing springs and find yourself going down residential side roads, only to find more signs pointing towards the larger town hall. When you get to the town hall, there are even more advertisements for the healing springs...of the travelling caravan. One quick maze of a journey later and you finally find the "spring", a heated barrel of water from some foreign mountain. The decrepit old man running the water wagon takes your Shards and asks you to disrobe, bringing four curtains on racks around your barrel. After such a poorly managed hunt for the springs, the false advertising, and the creepy old man, your nerves are bothered enough to crave violence. You almost hope they'll test you with one more annoyance as you undress...until you step into the barrel and feel the heated bath melt all your aches away. Damn, this is some nice water. [b][All Wounds Healed][/b] *set wounds 0 *set powspent 0 *set forspent 0 *set solspent 0 *set agispent 0 *set chispent 0 *line_break [b][All Cores and Chi Restored][/b] *goto shopintown #Leave *goto companioncall *label companioncall *if (style = "Aoyusumu") *if ({metangelo#2} >= 1) "I see our paths cross once again." A voice calls without yelling from across the crowd, yet it reaches your ears as clearly as if the speaker were right next to you. You gaze through the mass of shoppers and stalls to see anyone familiar and by the thinnest detail between the shuffling crowds you see a man waving. Angelo. *choice #"Oh no, you're not going to make me clean anymore rugs are you?" *set angelorep + 1 The sight of your one-time mentor makes your hands feel icy cold at the memories of washing so many rugs in snowmelt rivers. He approaches from across the crowd and the words escape from your mouth. "You're not going to make me clean anymore rugs, are you?" Angelo smiles and waves a hand dismissiveley, "Not a possibility I'm afraid, every village around here already has freshly cleaned flooring. You're not the only one to undergo my intensive cleanliness routine for the Trials." "Those poor souls." "Every one of them." Angelo agrees merrily. #"What's a pilgrim doing out here?" "What's a pilgrim doing out here?" You ask casually. "One cannot be a pilgrim without a pilgrimage." Angelo responds merrily, "I journey to those in need, and luckily for me they're all gathering westward in one place. Such convenience is hard to come by." You look to the western road out of the makeshift market. "The Heavenly Ascension Trials." "Indeed." *if (heshe = "she") #"I knew you couldn't keep away from me." *set angeloromance +1 *set angelorep + 3 You try to grin confidently when seeing Angelo again but it comes off as a brimming smile of actual joy. "I knew you couldn't keep away from me." Angelo laughs lightly and maneuvers through the crowd toward you while scratching the back of his head in embarrassment. "It seems you were correct, as here we are." "Was it the good looks or the charming personality?" "What an unfair question," Angelo replies calmly. "How could one choose between a blooming rose and the sunrise?" "By picking both." "Ah of course, the world bows to your wisdom." He concedes with a friendly yet curt nod. "I assume you're on your way to the Trials?" "I am." You say with head held high, yet it lowers with each next word as if the confidence leaks out of you. "Would you...want to walk with me?" *if (ruthless > 50) Terrible. You can't help but feel you botched that one, realizing a second later you could have instead lead with 'I may allow you to accompany too, if you ask nicely.' Another opportunity ruined. Yet Angelo's smile betrays a warmth you didn't expect. "I'd love nothing more." He replies, "Though I have my own business at the Trials keeping me busy, unfortunately." You originally met Angelo solely to prepare for the Heavenly Ascension Trials, and talking about them brings up the most important memory of your training. Before he can slip away again you change to an sudden accusatory tone. "Say, small talk aside, care to explain your sudden *if (angeloromance >= 1) disappearance?" You step closer. "And *else disappearance? And how you weren't really the Shugendō *if (angeloromance >= 1) master?" You step even closing, causing him to take a step back. "AND *else master? And the fact that the Shrinemaidens claim you were never *if (angeloromance >= 1) there?" You shove an accusing finger towards his face. "[b]AND[/b] *else there? And the SAINT'S statue of you in the Temple?" "Oh Heavens no," Angelo replies as if turning down seconds at dinner, "I wouldn't care to explain [i]any[/i] of that. Frankly it sounds dreadful." "But are you a Saint?" He scratches his chin. "An odd question to ask with such familiarity." "But [i]are you[/i] a Saint?" Angelo sighs slowly out his nose. "You don't have to give me such credit. That statue of my likeness is for a dead man, while I am quite alive." *if ((heshe = "he") or (angeloromance = 0)) He claps a hand on your shoulder. *elseif ((heshe = "she") and (angeloromance >= 1)) He takes your hand in both of his and you feel a blush fill your cheeks. A soft cerulean glow surrounds his body that reminds you of a thick blanket's warmth in winter. "Spirits and Fiends may fool the unpowered, but they cannot fool us so easily. Mine is an aura of life, not that of a ghost." He pauses for a moment, looking around the market and dismissing his aura. "Where is Jin? I had assumed the two of you always accompanied each other. You were even willing to undergo such a bonding experience as visiting a distant mountain peak Temple together." Your mood darkens and Angelo notices before you even speak. "Oh. I am sorry. How did it happen?" "What? No he's not dead. Abducted." You correct. "My Sect Master's heir recruited Jin and my sister Rin days before leaving for the Trials, with no official training. I have to save them when I get to Nanhou before they get themselves killed." Angelo is silent for a moment, pausing for too long. He seems to have lost his focus after a few seconds and you're almost insulted at his blank stare. Before you can snap him out of it he comes to his senses on his own. "My apologies, that's terrible to hear. On a normal day I'd swear to help you in such an endeavor but the Trials already have me locked up in so many aid missions that I had to write them down." He pulls out two thick scrolls from a travel bag. "I mean that quite literally." "Thanks for the thought, but unless you've got more Shugendō lessons for me anyway I've got to-" A spiritual scan interrupts your senses with how deeply it probes into your soul. Such a deep spiritual scan isn't a social stigma because it's uncomfortable. It's a stigma because it's what someone does for information on an enemy. It's a challenge to a fight. You look around quickly for known enemies. Sunbringers, Beasts, Spirits, Taio, Jack, anyone hiding behind a mask. Your own spiritual scan shoots out to find a source that matches the sensation that just probed into your spirit and you find its source immediately. It was Angelo. *page_break "Hold, peace! Peace!" Angelo pleads, hands up and palms forward, "I needed to confirm something and we're in luck. Your spirit does have the potential for more than just the abilities you have now, but why hasn't your Sect Master helped bring it out?" You keep your guard up but want to let it down. The idea of not getting into a fight in this crowd sounds convenient. "Family feud." "You're feuding with your Sect Master? I don't mean any offense but how are you alive? This region isn't famous for its cultural mercy." A small smile crosses your lips when you're reminded that Crusher Mao probably [i]wants[/i] to kill you and can't. "Binding vow, our local Magistrate is a crafty old man." Angelo's eyebrows raise ever so slowly and continuously. "I cannot tell if you are blessed or cursed." He rubs his chin thoughtfully. "When you originally said your Sect Master merely refused to train you I never expected the situation was so dire. The Trials will offer him a way to endanger your life and the lives of your family without breaking any vow. There's only one thing I can spare the time for that might help." *if ((element1 != "None") and (element2 != "")) "A third element?" You ask in confusion, "I didn't think that was possible." "It's not! In theory. Most of the time. No, my once-and-now twice apprentice, I have much loftier goals in mind for your unfair advantage." *else "A second Element?" You ask in high hopes. "Better, though it will be harder and more painful than cleaning rugs." Angelo turns with a flourish of his robes and strides from the marketplace. "Come, there's a waterfall four hours from here. We can use it to pull out your most important aspect." "And what aspect is that?" He looks over his shoulder with a smile. "Your aura has hints of Sacred Chi, like mine. You're going to learn the Aoyusumu Style." *goto angelotraining *else A neighboring exchange between Master and Apprentice catches your ear. "But Master, you can't leave me on this journey all alone!" Pleads a young bull Yokai, soft-faced to show youth yet enormous in size from his race. "What about the Beasts and Highwaymen?" A Lunargoth places his large hands on the young-yet-enormous boy's shoulders and you get a good look at the Master, a Devanic priest by the looks of his robes. *if (portraitpics) *image https://www.auraclash.com/assets/img/Angelo.jpg "You'll be fine without me, young one. There is another matter I must attend to here and it's of most importance. Besides, the real strength was inside you all along." "Really?" The young bull Yokai asks, swelling with pride. "Of course! Probably." He hands the boy a Path Manual. "Now read this while you walk, and stay in busy crowds to avoid trouble." The bull Yokai takes the Path Manual in one large hand and stares in awe at the notebook as if it were a golden treasure trove. To most, it is. "Thank you Master Angelo, I'll put this to good use and never forget you!" Angelo pats the young man on the head. "Nor I you, young Timmy." "It's Tai Mi." "Neat." When the younger of the two skips off with his Path Manual in tow this 'Angelo' turns to you. "${fullname}, I don't believe we've met." *page_break You rush back two leaps and cycle your chi for combat. The man doesn't pursue, instead crossing his fingers and frowning in disappointment. "Do we have to do this? I don't want to do this." "Then why do you know my name? I never told it to you." "No, but *if (japannaming) ${clan} Jin *else Jin ${clan} told me enough." The flow of chi around your body ends abruptly. "You've met Jin? Where? When? Is he okay?" Angelo holds a hand up for peace. "I met him and his sister among the Thunderfall Sect earlier in my journey. We talked for hours, they are safe for now." "The Sect let a stranger walk among them? That doesn't sound like Mao." "In these crowded roads they were ecstatic over the idea. They seemed to quite love surrounding a solitary Martial Artist in some sort of intimidation tactic, and I was more than happy for the conversation. Jin is well, but distressed. *if ((rincombat >= 4) and (jincombat >= 4)) Though his Aura Pressure is sufficient, and as is his sister's, his worry is reserved for you. He *elseif (jincombat >= 4) He worries for his sister, her Aura Pressure seeming insufficient for the Trials. He also *else He worries for his life, I don't believe his Aura Pressure is high enough for the Trials. He also hadn't heard from you in days before being drafted into the Trials." Angelo scratches the back of his head and stares up at the clouds for several seconds before continuing. "He suspected his Sect's heir had you attacked and killed. Truth be told, he was preparing a poison when I met him. I had to talk him down from throwing his life away attempting an assassination." Jin was going to take on Jack for you? That's almost flattering, but it doubles your concerns that he's in danger. "How far away are they?" "Days. Too far to catch up before Nanhou, but Jin's given me quite the lengthy tale of his life. You come up several times, *if (heshe = "he") Mr. *else Miss Savior. Unfortunately your spirit is not ready yet if you plan to 'save' them from your own Sect this time. That's why Jin asked me to give something to you, though even he thinks you won't want it." Angelo extends a palm. "...It's empty. Is this some sort of-" "Forgive me." He slaps you in the face. *choice #I narrow my eyes. "Don't do that again." *set honor + 2 *set ruthless - 1 *set angelorep + 1 You narrow your eyes at man who foolishly struck you. "Don't do that again." "Of course, my apologies. Please forgive me." He slaps you again. Screams fill the market as you strike Angelo with enough force to knock him into a distant wagon, breaking its wheel. "I'll pay for that." Angelo says abruptly into the air, slowly rising with a groan from the wagon wreckage. He hands a sack of Shards to the [i]very[/i] surprised wagon rider behind him. "For the inconvenience." Then he walks back to you with a bow. "And I surrender, AND owe you an explanation." "Yes, you do." #"HEY!" "HEY!" You bark, ready to strike back. "Forgiveness, please." He slaps you again. This time you [i]do[/i] strike back, punching him in the nose. "Keep your hands to yourself!" Angelo holds his bleeding nose with one hand and concedes with the other. "Well done. That should do it." He says with a nasally voice from holding his nose closed. #Slap him back. The second Angelo's palm strikes your face you respond with a cross-slap to his. "Apologies." He says through the reddening palm-print growing on his face. Then he slaps you again. You nearly see red at the audacity and reel your fist back with glowing ${auracolor} chi before he raises both hands in surrender. "I yield!" He shouts, "I yield, I think we have what we need." "We?" *if (heshe = "she") #Moan loudly. When Angelo's palm slaps across your cheek you let out a deep sultry moan and his face becomes a brighter shade of red than the world's most vibrant sunset. "WH-What in the world?!" "Harder." You whisper through his stammering. *set angeloromance + 1 "Good Heavens woman, contain yourself! I was testing you for training!" "They have a different word for it where I come from." "For the love of-" Angelo stops and pinches the bridge of his nose. "I see we got off on the wrong foot. Jin had told me you train best with a grudge, he asked me to get you fired up so your training would progress faster." You lean closer to him. "I [i]am[/i] fired up." *set angelorep + 3 "Just," he closes his eyes and leans his head back as if to stifle a headache. "Just follow me." He turns and strides away from the market, frustrated and blushing. *goto importantaspectaoyu "Jin mentioned you've trained to prepare for some grudge all your life, I wanted to make sure you brought the right emotions into your training." "Congratulations on your victory, I am successfully pissed off." Angelo sighs. "It seems your brother knows you well, so well that I owe him 5 Shards. I'd bet it would take 4 slaps. Rin said 1. Follow me please." Angelo turns around with a flourish of his robes and strides away from the market. *label importantaspectaoyu "There's a waterfall four hours from here. We can use it to pull out your most important aspect." *if ((heshe = "she") and (angeloromance >= 1)) "And pray tell, what is my most important aspect?" *else "And what aspect is that?" He looks over his shoulder with a calmer smile. "Your aura has hints of Sacred Chi, like mine. We're going to learn the Aoyusumu Style." *goto angelotraining *label angelotraining *page_break "How much do you know about the Aoyusumu Style?" Angelo asks while leading you downhill on an offshoot of the main road. "I know it's about religion and mind powers." "Ouch, is that how we advertise ourselves these days?" Angelo tsks several times. "The local preachers will have to do better. The Aoyusumu martial art is about defense at its most pure and simple form." That doesn't sound right at all. "Can't they move things without touching them, control people's minds, and hear prayers? What's defensive about that?" Angelo holds a hand up. "We'll get there, but we have to understand the purpose of Aoyusumu first. It's a martial art is it not?" "It is." "And how does it fight? What does it look like in battle?" You hesitate, because you honestly don't know. The Five Styles have seemed so far away from actual combat, most of them seem more like mythical powers. Aoyusumu highest among those, it's always sounded too flashy for hand-to-hand combat. Judging from Angelo's nod he knows you don't know. "It's okay." He says. "Most don't know. Come at me first and I'll show you." He beckons you over. "Come now, hit me. I can take it...probably. I hope." *choice #Punch him. You swing a fist for Angelo's neck and he weaves to the side, gripping your arm and throwing you over his shoulder. When you land he pulls your arm behind your back and sits on you, arm pinned underneath his weight. #Kick him. You kick at Angelo's torso and he catches your foot with both hands, pushing your leg back towards you until it bends mid-rise. You nearly knee yourself in the face as he shoves your leg upward with enough force to take you off your feet. While airborne he grabs your other leg and spins you hard enough that you twist two full rotations before hitting the ground where he pins your arm behind your back. #Grapple him. You grab Angelo around the waist, your head on his right side. He doesn't budge, firmly planted on the ground, and slips his left hand under your neck to pry you off while his right-hand grips you into a chokehold. From there some force hits both your legs out from under you until they point straight into the air, at which time he drops to the ground to slam your head into the dirt. As you prepare for the pain he lets go at the last second and pulls you sideways, gripping your arm from behind and landing on top of you with incredible speed as you both finally hit the ground. #Launch an energy blast at him. You cycle hostile chi through your cores and swipe one hand upward, throwing an energy blast at his chin with impressive speed. He weaves to the side to dodge the blast and kicks your legs out from under you. As you're falling he charges his own cerulean blast and holds it to your face. The moment you flinch to prepare for the pain he dismisses the energy and instead twists your arm behind you as the two of you drop to the ground, his weight landing on top of your body the moment you hit the ground. *set apval 1 *gosub_scene quicks apboost The wind leaves your lungs from the impact but it's otherwise a painless loss. *if ((honor <= 45) or ((heshe = "she") and (angeloromance >= 1))) "Ihhhhh learned a lot." You squeek out with the last air in your body. *set angelorep + 1 "I hope so." Angelo says while getting off you and helping you to stand. "Beating on my students is not my most beloved hobby. The *else "What was the point of this?" You ask after catching your breath. Angelo says while rising and helping you to stand. "The point of this is to see that it's a real Martial Art. The key to the Aoyusumu Style is to learn to redirect an opponent's energy in literal form, through harmonious combat experience, and only then can you master the mental applications of the Sacred Chi that it cultivates." If you're understanding this right, he's saying you'll have to relearn the physical martial arts entirely. Who knows how long that will take...wait why is Angelo's face red? He's holding a hand over his mouth and his chest is shaking and- "Ohhh you bastard." He cracks up and full-on laughs. "The look on your face!" Angelo says through wheezes. "I am sorry, that lecture is an old tradition from my Master. I actually believed him and trained tirelessly for weeks before he confessed the prank." He exhales happily. "Ah, it has been years." The man dusts off his robes and looks to you more seriously. "I jest and tease. Aoyusumu is a martial art, yes, but it depends on Sacred Chi to learn the forms right. The Trials will no doubt focus on flashy effects judged by arrogant rubes, so we will be focusing almost purely on the Sacred Chi over proper form." "You mean-?" "Yes." Angelo says with a warm smile. "We're going to teach you the good stuff, and we've already arrived at your training site." He moves several vines out of the way on the right side of your trail and you see a river downhill leading to a waterfall in the distance. "Let us start with telekinesis." *page_break "So I just get into the water?" You shout next to the waterfall, balancing on slippery rocks. "Do I need any preparation herbs or meditation stance?" "I'm partial to sitting cross-legged!" Angelo shouts back from outside the waterfall's splash zone, cupping his hands around his mouth so you can hear him over the roaring waterfall. "For the holy aesthetics!" After one step under the waterfall you feel the familiar pressure of the rushing rapids crash down on your head and shoulders. Cold water forces out your breath and sends a chill down your sides when it rushes down your ears. Several more carefully balanced steps bring you to the center and you take up a meditative cross-legged stance as Angelo suggested. Nothing feels colder from the icy waters than the insides of your knees, and you only now realize that they're never exposed when you're out in the snow. "WHAT NOW?" You shout into the water covering your face. "@%$#@*&$#%" Angelo says back. "WHAT??" You shout back into the waterfall. "I don't think we're going to be able to communicate clearly." Angelo says calmly and clearly, as if he's a foot from your face and the waters were silent. You have no idea how you can hear him. "I'm speaking into your mind." Ah, that explains it. Hopefully he isn't reading your mind. "I'm not." He adds hastily. "Everyone asks if I'm reading their mind after hearing my thoughts in their head, I find it humorous to answer before the question is asked." A likely story, you think to yourself. "I'm sure you've experienced waterfall training before. The gist is to meditate on some concept while the irregular impact of the water and the numbing sensation of the cold try to impede your thoughts. We'll be doing the same, but with a twist: I want you to feel out for my Sacred chi as it aids the water in crashing down upon you. Brace yourself." *set forspent + 1 [b][1 Fortitude Core Spent][/b] The waterfall's water slams into you with renewed force. A thrum of pain covers your entire right shoulder, right up to your neck which tenses like a strained muscle. It takes everything you have to keep your posture and not slide off your wet rocks, let alone to resist gasping in pain. A sharp inhale inside this much water could start a drowning fit. "Feel out the impact and recognize its shapeless power, like a slam of raw force from a distance. Not sharp and precise like a weapon but wide and accommodating like an open hand. Sacred Chi comes from the mind, the same mind that controls our movements. An open hand is how it perceives its control of the world. Feel out for that mental power in the Sacred Chi, connect with its impressions. We will continue with small attacks like this until you can't take it anymore. Hopefully all day." After ${fortitude} hours you finally do feel the Sacred Chi and stop perceiving it as a water attack, but rather as an intangible palm strike hidden in the water. It's at the same moment as your enlightenment that you succumb to the blunt force and pass out. Angelo drags you out and treats you with a medicinal wine only to send you back in, slightly healed and more than slightly drunk. The process repeats until well past nightfall. *page_break Radiant sunlight breaks through the lining of your tent the next morning and wakes you to a wonderful new day. Moving a single inch reminds you that you're covered in bruises, so perhaps not a [i]wonderful[/i] new day. Either way you drag yourself to the river and cup your hands to take a drink before seeing your reflection. "Ancestors, I look awful." Your face and shoulders are completely black and purple with bruises. Your eyes look like you've never even imagined sleeping, and your lips are as fat as a finger. You are a walking, talking bruise in ${race} form. "Not to worry!" Says Angelo from across the river, cooking something in a cauldron. "I've used the fresh spring water and a recipe Jin gave me *if ({metangelo#2} >= 1) during your meditations back at the temple *else on the road that he swears will cheer you right up. He seemed quite excited about being able to help his *if (heshe = "he") brother." *else sister." No.... Angelo withdraws a metal spoon from the cauldron and takes a sip. "Yep, that's ready." He winces as he swallows. Then coughs from the acidic bile taste. "I believe he called it Burnt Leaf Soup." NOOOOOOOO!!!!! [b][All Wounds Healed][/b] *set wounds 0 *page_break After forcing down your mother's godawful recipe you and Angelo both place your bowls down and rise. He claps his hands together and gives a long inhale. "Our next training will be more combat oriented. Predictive training. I will strike at you, and you will learn where I am going to strike." You stare at him sideways. "If that was so easy, everyone would learn it." Angelo smiles. "Not everyone, only one fifth of the naturally talented population. I'm going to be leading my strikes with Sacred Chi and your natural affinity for Sacred Chi will pick up on the pattern. Hopefully. If we're lucky, you'll develop more of your own Sacred Chi in response to instinctively aid you in dodging. That's the Technique we're out to emulate today, Danger Sense." Before you can ask a question he shoves a palm into your chest. Just before his hand strikes you feel the impact of an unpowered punch against your collarbone as his Sacred Chi lightly hits your chest. Then the actual strike lands and you're knocked off your feet. He proceeds to open-palm slap the shit out of you for thirteen hours until you're both panting messes collapsed on the ground. You didn't successfully predict a strike until hour six. [b][1 Agility Core Spent][/b] "By the Saints that was exhausting, I haven't had a workout like that in months." Angelo says cheerily from the ground between gasping breaths as if having a casual chat. "You're getting quite good!" "Hrrrrnnnnnnnnn." You reply in anguish from the jungle floor, jaw dislocated and left side of your body bright red and black. It seems Angelo is right-handed. "Of course, my apologies. Give me a moment to recover and I'll get the soup." "HRRRRNNNNNNNN!!" *page_break After your debilitating second day you're surprised to find Angelo has packed up camp before you awoke on the following morning. "Where are we going?" Angelo holds two large packs on his back. "West, Nanhou awaits and we'll continue our training on the road. Your next task will be finding Zen focus." "So focus training?" You ask while packing up your tent. "What's the difference between that and usual meditation?" Angelo starts hiking as soon as you've packed. "It's a state of empty-mindedness that refreshes the thoughts. Most people have so many thoughts they can't properly organize them. Fears, doubts, dangers, grudges, and plenty of less dramatic feelings and thoughts like chores to do later, a funny joke in the back of their mind, a desire for a specific food at dinner. It's all harmless, but Sacred Chi uses the mind for power. By learning to empty our mind of needless thoughts for a moment we expand the power we can call upon in the middle of battle." "If it increases my battle power then I'm interested. Where are we going for this Zen meditation?" "Going?" Angelo asks, turning back to you. "Your meditation starts right now, for the whole march." The two of you pass by several farms, small towns, travelers, and even get passed by a couple Sects and caravans as you march throughout the whole day. All the while you do your best to think of nothing, which proves surprisingly difficult while you have to focus on where you're walking. And yet...Something in your spirit aids in the pursuit. The Sacred Chi you've worked so hard to tap into feels closer and more plentiful as you try your best to blot out all thought, and you feel it grow in strength at certain times when your focus falls to nothingness, an absolute zero, a readiness for thought that never needs to be called upon. Angelo wakes you from the trance by placing a hand on your shoulder. "What?" You ask before looking around. What are these woods? When did it get so dark? "You've been silent for seven hours. The sun will be up in four more, we'll camp here for a nap." *set solspent + 1 [b][1 Soul Core Spent][/b] *page_break The next morning you're facing a waterfall again, glaring back at Angelo. "This isn't training." You say to the Lunargoth. "It's sadism." "I assure you my training regimen is made entirely from love!" Angelo responds. "And I would [i]love[/i] for you to get back into the waterfall, if you would be so kind." "We already did this." "We already did something like this, yes. But this time I will not be doing anything. You will be the one sending forces of Sacred Chi in the water, though it will be up, not down. Your goal is to use your own energy to keep the water off of you." "That's impossible." You reply flatly. Even Crusher Mao couldn't launch nonstop energy blasts fast enough to keep falling water from landing on him. He could probably blow up the waterfall, but that's cheating. "It's impossible if you're wasting energy, but you've been growing your Sacred Chi since we started." He's right, you realize. When you power up your aura there are clearly visible motes of cerulean chi among the ${auracolor} energy. "I don't want you to blast the water with some invisible force, I want you to envision the palm strikes I struck you with earlier. Have your spirit interpret force the way our minds comprehend force: through the body. Tell me, when you extend your hand, does it have to shoot off your arm?" "Obviously not." "Then why does your energy blast have to leave your grip? Sacred Chi is different in that regard. It channels our mind to gain more control. An energy blast made entirely of Sacred Chi can be held still like a hand balancing the water above you. I want you to push that energy forward, hold it steady, and widen it enough to keep the water off of you. I assure you it's even harder than you're imagining but still quite possible." He gives you a perfect smile after that speech. You look to the waterfall and back. He continues smiling and simply nods. You sigh and enter the waterfall. The first three hours are spent burning through every ounce of chi you have in your system, only to be handed replenishment pills by Angelo. You've no idea where he got them. The next three hours are spent isolating your Sacred chi and sending only that amount upward in resistance to the waterfall. The water's pressure cracks your focus after seconds but you keep your hold on that chi. The next three hours you focus on holding an imprecise shapeless force pushing the water upwards, as if you had a wrist-wide geyser of your own pushing up against the raging waters. In the last three hours you're able to hold an invisible disc above your head to stop three inches worth of water, constantly fighting to keep the disc intact through the waterfall's uneven pressure. [b][1 Power Core Spent][/b] When you leave the waterfall Angelo grins wide and tosses you an apple that stops short in front of your face as you catch it without using your hands. It glows cerulean in front of your face, held still by your Sacred Chi. "Take a bite." He encourages. "You've earned it." "I couldn't stay dry." You reply, grabbing the fruit in both pruned and soaked hands before your drained spirit gives out. "$!{name}, this is supposed to be a two-year secret training method from an Aoyusumu Ice-Sect in the frozen peaks of Outer North. You've made progress on day four. Eat the victory apple." [b][Spirit Fruit Bonus: +10 Aura Pressure][/b] *set aurapressure + 10 *page_break "Here we are!" Angelo declares in victory as you both crest a hill and see the ocean, as beautiful as it is intimidating. Growing up in the mountains around Thunderfall Village meant you've never actually seen the ocean, only the large lakes of snowmelt that freeze early in the autumn due to your town's high elevation. To be down here, in the warm glow of the sun, where you see the vast and imposing view of the ocean continuing on farther than any sight of your life... It's majestic. "Is that Nanhou?" You ask, gazing upon the busy docks of a coastal town down the road. "Oh we both certainly wish, no, this is Ebikowa. Known for its lumber exports and shrimp netting, which means plenty of ships. We'll be buying passage on one to get to Nanhou after the last step of your training to make you an Aoyusumu martial artist." You look to him questioningly. "I've used Telekinesis, I'm already an Aoyusumu martial artist." "I'm afraid not." Angelo replies sadly. "You managed to [i]temporarily[/i] stop an apple lightly tossed underhand. After this last step you should be able to stop a 600 Aura Pressure energy beam sent with desperate lethal force by a trueborn Warrior Caste martial artist." "You have my complete and total attention." "Then sit and empty your spirit, your apprenticeship ends here. I want you to completely expel every ounce of chi in your system into the air, and then I will infuse my own aura into you." "That's...impossible." You and Kosuke looked into that from every angle. "You can't give your aura to someone else." "Correct!" Angelo exclaims. "I am glad you paid attention in your schooling, but your aura is already learning to create Sacred Chi instead of basic spiritual energy. We cannot give you my Aura Pressure or even replenish you Cores with my chi, true, but we can 'trick' your spirit into only making Sacred Chi from now on by only surrounding it with Sacred Chi. I must stress that this only hurries the process you already started. I am [i]begging[/i] you not to do this to someone else who does not have Sacred Chi, it is a dangerous and rushed trick that should almost always be replaced with simply training for another year. Yet the Trials will not give you the time, so do this we must." "What's so dangerous about it?" "Your body will reject the process even though there's nothing physical to reject. You will succumb to fever for days on end until your aura replenishes. As for me, my own Aura Pressure will not recover in the usual time because it is being consumed and battled by yours." "So in short, we're going to rent a ship looking like corpses." "Yes, and they will likely charge a premium for it. Now sit still please, we have fevers to acquire." You and Angelo sit across from each other in cross-legged meditation while he performs handseals in quiet contemplation. You close your eyes and press every ounce of chi into your aura, flaring your power up and into the sky by a dozen feet. You've never wasted energy like this before and it feels like throwing money down a well. Suddenly a presence rips open in your spiritual senses, a beacon of force and perception. Sacred Chi. Angelo's spirit. It rushes into and over you like a warm blanket hugging too tightly. You try to fight it back at the sensation of the foreign chi smothering your thoughts but feel a spark from deep within your own Cores: your own mental might. Your own force. Your own Spiritual Chi. The sensation of being restrained is overcome as the Sacred chi all around you dwindles over the next ten minutes of struggle, replaced by a calm ocean at the center of your own spirit that grows in potential, though not in size. Yet. When at last Angelo's foreign chi is gone you feel that your own aura has taken on a new meaning, a new form. Your chi reserves remain empty and your aura remains weak but it feels healthy. When your power returns it should be a full aura of Sacred Chi. Yet something more calls to you. Two of the Aoyusumu effects that you haphazardly called upon during training solidify in your soul like new instincts, specifically from *set val 0 *set angelorep + 5 *label aoyunewtechs *if (val = 0) the... *else The second new power resonating through your soul comes from the... *choice *disable_reuse #First Waterfall Training. [Health Increase + Fortitude Surge Bonus] *gosub_scene quicks learntech 1120000002000000 "Sacred Armor" "Passively increases Health Pool by +1. Increases Fortitude Sure by +1 when focused." [b][Learning this Technique passively increases your Health Pool by +1.][/b] *line_break [b][While focused to the Power Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Fortitude Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Fortitude checks.][/b] *disable_reuse #Predictive Sparring. [Insight Increase + Agility Surge Bonus] *gosub_scene quicks learntech 3130670000000000 "Danger Sense" "Passively increases Insight by +1. Increases Agility Surge by +1 when focused." [b][Learning this Technique passively increases your Insight by +1.][/b] *line_break [b][While focused to the Agility Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Agility Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Agility checks.][/b] *disable_reuse #Zen Meditation Training. [Deception Increase + Soul Surge Bonus] *gosub_scene quicks learntech 4140470000000000 "Zen Focus" "Passively increases Deception by +1. Increases Soul Surge by +1 when focused." [b][Learning this Technique passively increases your Deception by +1.][/b] *line_break [b][While focused to the Soul Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Soul Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Soul checks.][/b] *disable_reuse #Second Waterfall Training. [Aura Pressure Increase + Block Physical Attacks in Combat] *gosub_scene quicks learntech 2400000020000000 "Forcefield" "Passively increases Aura Pressure by +10. Automatically blocks certain physical attacks when focused." [b][Learning this Technique passively increases your Aura Pressure by +10.][/b] *line_break [b][While focused to the Fortitude Core, this Technique automatically blocks certain physical attacks against you.][/b] *if (val = 0) *set val + 1 *goto aoyunewtechs The process feels invigorating at first but that surge of energy falls flat almost immediately, replaced with a heavy fatigue as your body heats up. You lean over to catch your breath but your arm braced against the ground completely gives up, collapsing you into the marsh island's grass. Angelo lies on the ground as well, his smile and optimism gone. "V...Victory." He croaks. One hand of his weakly lifts a waterskin to his lips. "Hm, this wine must have gone bad. It tastes...well it tastes rather like..." Thud. The pilgrim's eyes roll into the back of his head as his hand drops to the ground, spilling wine onto the grass. Moments later all you hear is the crunching of grass. A silver colored pantleg steps over you and snickers, lightly kicking your head with the other foot as the man passes over you. A dozen more men and women follow and surround Angelo's unconscious form. One of the crowd lifts him over his shoulder and you get a good look at their outfits: each of the newcomers is dressed in silver and yellow combat gi. The uniform of the Sunbringers. "A good haul." Says one of the Sunbringer women. "Indeed, not just a useful sacrifice *goto taioreveal *elseif (style = "Akakiru") "See anything you like?" Comes *if (heshe = "he") an inviting *else a voice from behind. *if (portraitpics) *image https://www.auraclash.com/assets/img/Leona.jpg You look over your shoulder to see a blonde Lunargothic woman sporting blue armor in the Lunargothic style, different colored eyes, and two katanas on the same side of her hip. She waves a gauntleted hand over the displays. "Because I sure haven't. Finding a good sword before the Trials is like finding a virgin in a brothel." *choice #I eye her two blades. "[i]More[/i] swords? Leave some for the rest of us." "[i]More[/i] swords?" You look at the two blades on her hip. "Leave some for the rest of us." "Hah! These things?" The swordgirl pats her blades on the hilts. "Garbage used for cultivation. Every good swordswoman uses Soul Treasures for their blades and I've yet to find any useful ones. Every Soul Treasure my Sect gets it too weak or the wrong source. I mean, who cares if you fuse a Beast's claw into a sword? All that does is cut things, and swords [i]already cut things[/i]." "I never thought of it that way." "You should," she stresses, "since *label Next_nou you're a *if (heshe = "he") swordsman *else swordswoman too aren't you? I can sense it, just like I can sense that you're strong." She strides so close that the toes of her sabatons touch the toes of your travel boots. Her face gets in yours and your noses almost meet as her differently colored eyes gaze into yours with an unsteady intensity you've only seen in Crusher Mao. "So that leaves the question. Why haven't you finished a Style Advancement, ${fullname}?" #"There's plenty of virgins in a brothel, they're called customers." "There's plenty of virgins in a brothel." You correct her analogy. "They're called customers." The swordgirl freezes in surprise and shock at your audacity to be correct. "Are you suggesting I get my swords from other people who want to buy swords?" That's not what you were saying, but damn it's a good interpretation. Makes you sound wise. You shrug and roll with it. "Name a better source for good swords than good swordsmen." She lets out a shocked laugh. "I can't believe what I'm hearing! Not that you're saying it, obviously, but that my expression accidentally worked so well." She exhales and shakes her head. "That is [i]wild[/i]. Though you shouldn't make yourself a target like that." Her voice shifts to a darker tone. "Afterall, *goto Next_nou #"Fuck off." "Fuck off." You say [i]immediately[/i]. "Whoa!" the swordgirl exclaims in exaggerated surprise, "somebody's quite the powderkeg! What nerve could I have possibly touched?" "Not interested." With a quick leap you clear half the crowd at the market and land near a different booth. The merchant of that booth doesn't flinch at all. "Welcome, honored Martial Artist, please peruse my wares of fine paintings and-" "$!{heshe}'s more interested in swords." Says the same girl, suddenly behind you. This *if (heshe = "she") hag *else wench clearly isn't getting the picture so you turn and spit into her face to make your point clear. *if (heshe = "he") The swordgirl catches your spit in her mouth and chomps down with a smile. *set leonaromance + 1 What. The. Fuck. She laces her fingers together and pushes both hands down in front, lifting one leg behind her and blushing coyly. "Oh goodness me, don't go flirting with strangers! You never know when it could get you in trouble with their relatives. They say dueling over honor is the number one cause of death for people like us." "...People like us?" You find yourself asking, still getting over what you just saw. "Hey, playing coy is my game! Don't go stealing it like you stole my Style. After all, *else It splatters against her face and her smile doesn't even falter. "You [i]are[/i] more interested in swords, aren't you? After all, *goto Next_nou *if (heshe = "he") #"Oh I definitely see something I like." "Oh I definitely see something I like." This woman's figure is so out of this world that you can see it through her armor. The swordgirl's turns her right cheek to you and she fans her face with a single gauntleted hand. "I must say, young master, you certainly know how to make a girl feel appreciated. Is it because of this?" She raises her arms overhead and poses, stretching her chest forward. "Or this?" She pulls both arms down and turns to the side, pushing her hips towards you from behind and looking over her shoulder with a wink. "Or maybe it's my bladed chi? After all, *set leonaromance +1 *goto Next_nou You rush two leaps back and cycle your chi for battle. "What's the matter?" Asks the swordgirl, tilting her head with an exaggerated pout. "Don't you want to be my friend?" "I never told you my name." "Correct." The swordgirl announces happily, head lowering and eyes seamlessly shifting from doe-eyed prey to sharp-eyed predator. "You didn't." She draws both blades and hurls one at you hilt-first with the speed of a loosed arrow. "Mine's Leona!" Just as you catch her sword in your dominant hand she kicks your chest with such force that you're sent spinning airborne higher than the tree line. Screams fill the crowded market from the shockwave of her strike's impact as you're jettisoned towards a neighboring field. Spinning in mid-air disorients your senses but before even landing on the field across the small cluster of trees you rotate enough to see her again. She's leaping up to follow you, laughing. The two of you land in the field, swords drawn, and you stare in bafflement as this woman punches herself in the face with her gauntleted fist the second her feet touch the ground. Blood leaks from her nose and she grins wide, letting the crimson liquid fall between her teeth. "I hear Thunderfall is sending some monsters to the Trials, I want to see one!" *choice #"What is [b]wrong[/b] with you?!" "What is [b]wrong[/b] with you?!" You shout while skidding backwards from your rough landing, gouging two lines in the field as you stay on your feet while sliding across the grass. "Me? I'm just a small-town girl who likes to dance!" #"You want a monster? I'll give you one!" I punch my own face too. If one thing's for sure it's that this woman is insane, and you've had enough of crazy idiots showing you up. No one will out-crazy [i]you[/i]. "You want a monster?" You scream out, "I'll give you one!" *set combatstat "fortitude" *set combatdiff power *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) You crack your own fist into your face hard enough to bloody your nose but not hard enough to cause serious damage. *else Controlling your Power Core to not overcome your Fortitude Core is harder than you thought. You crack your own fist into your face hard enough that your brain suffers some bleeding as well. [b][1 Wound Suffered][/b] *set wounds + 1 *if (woundbonus > 0) *set aurapressure + woundbonus *gosub leonadeathcheck *set leonarep + 5 *if (heshe = "he") *set leonaromance + 1 "Yes!" Leona shouts out, laughing gleefully, "YES YOU GET IT!" *if (heshe = "he") #"Why are all the hot ones crazy?!" "Why are all the hot ones crazy?!" You shout while skidding backwards from your rough landing, gouging two lines in the field as you stay on your feet while sliding across the grass. "You've got it backwards!" Leona shouts back, recklessly using her sword-arm to flip her hair over a shoulder and waving the blade close to her face. "All the crazy ones are hot!" *if (heshe = "she") #Oh this whore is dead. "You kicked my tit you stupid bitch!" Oh this whore is dead. "You kicked my tit you stupid bitch!" Leona cackles maniacally. "And I'll kick it again, too!" *if (sonarmode) [b][Thunderfaller vs Leona][/b] *else *image https://www.auraclash.com/assets/img/ap-thunderfaller-vs-leona1.png The air around her shakes in your vision before igniting into a geyser of scarlet arcing blades of energy. Deep gashes form in the ground around her legs when she raises her blade overhead, poised to charge. "Now show me a good time, $!{name}!" Your own aura explodes into *if (element1 = "Darkness") a swirling void of darkness *elseif (element1 = "Earth") a dense amber blaze *elseif (element1 = "Fire") a burning eruption of flames *elseif (element1 = "Ice") a freezing swirl of arctic blue ice vapor *elseif (element1 = "Light") the shining yellow light of the dawn *elseif (element1 = "Storm") a violet blaze of crackling lightning bolts *elseif (element1 = "Water") a swirling force of dark blue power *elseif (element1 = "Wind") a forceful explosion of emerald green energy *elseif (element1 = "None") a white blaze of potent chi *else [b][Error! Incorrect element assigned!][/b] as she charges across the field. *set val 0 *choice #I'm confident in my speed, I charge forward for the first attack. With explosive speed you charge in to meet her blade, swinging it upward from the hip to meet hers. *set combatstat "agility" *set combatskill "athletics" *set combatdiff 6 *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) It's not until the two of you clash that you push off with one final leap to push your blade even further. You don't meet her attack from above with an attack from below, you accelerate a stab into her kidney and wrench your blade up to meet hers after. *set leonadmg + 1 *set leonarep + 3 Leona staggers backwards and spits up blood. "I-Iaijutsu" She holds a hand to her side and looks down at the red liquid on her gauntlet. "Not bad for a-" You're upon her again before she can finish talking and immediately learn your mistake as her mouth opens wide and glows with a cross of scarlet energy. The power expands as it leaves her mouth until it fires out like two curved swords of solid chi speeding at your torso. *page_break *set combatstat "fortitude" *set combatdiff 5 *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) Her energy attack crashes into your chest like two sword slashes against a rock wall. You respond in kind by swinging your sword diagonally across her breastplate and following up with a pommel strike to her temple that knocks her off her feet, tumbling to the ground. *set leonadmg + 1 "Damn damn damn!" She shouts, leaping with a twist to rise instantly and spitting dirt out of her mouth. "You don't even know Akakiru, how the Hells are you beating me with a sword?!" "I could beat you without a sword." You reply, dashing in to close the new distance. *goto leonaround2choices *else Her energy attacks crash into your chest and slices deep through your muscles and collarbone. Blood shoots from your wounds and mouth simultaneously as the force of her chi lands with [i]physical[/i] weight, knocking the wind out of you just as it cuts you up inside. [b][1 Wounds Suffered][/b] *set wounds + 1 *gosub leonadeathcheck Smoke emits from her mouth as if she'd fired a cannon shot and she blows it with one gauntleted hand as if she ate something too hot. "You didn't really expect to surprise me without any Akakiru Techniques, right? Nothing but the best can compete with the Five Styles so-" *if (background = "Blacksmith") [b]*SHUNK*[/b] Leona looks down at the Tanto you just threw, now embedded into her arm through a gap in her armor's joints. *if (heshe = "she") "Oh you sassy bitch..." *else "Oh Hells! Ahhh! It stings! Is this what I've been doing to people?!?!" *set leonadmg + 1 She's so surprised by the sudden wound that she doesn't see you're already upon her. *goto leonaround2choices *elseif (background = "Herbalist") [i]*sniff* *sniff*[/i] "Oh Ancestors," She gags, covering her mouth, "Oh sweet death what's that horrible sme-[b]*HURCK*[/b]" Leona begins to hurl from the mix of sulfuric ingredients you dropped at her feet during the scuffle to form a stinkbomb. With great reluctance you actually got [i]closer[/i] to the smell when she bent over to vomit, *elseif (background = "Trapper") [b]*CLAP*[/b] "What the Hells-" She looks down to her armored boot only to see a beartrap closed around it, the one you'd left in the middle of your skirmish. By the time she looks back up you've closed the distance and pressed your attack, *elseif (background = "Merchant") [b]*CLINK* *CLINK* *CLINK* *CLINK*[/b] "What the-" Leona shouts, spitting out a coin from your barrage of money thrown at her armor. "Stop throwing silver at me!" She doesn't realize you've been running forward with each handful of Silver thrown until you're already upon her, eyes wide with violent intent. *goto leonaround2choices *else But your speed proves not explosive enough. Leona's blade comes down on your own [b]hard[/b] and knocks your attack back down. Her cleave continues even further and cuts deep into your shoulder before you roll out of the way to minimize the damage. *set wounds + 1 [b][1 Wounds Suffered][/b] *gosub leonadeathcheck "I'm disappointed!" She shouts out, "I was charging with my sword held high, it was obviously a Stance meant for Beast combat instead of duels. A [i]real[/i] *if (heshe = "he") swordsman *else swordgirl would counter with the quickdraw of Iaijutsu!" You swing at her with full force to push her away and stagger back to your feet. "What the Hell is an Iaijutsu." It's not a question so much as a dismissal, yet still Leona looks shocked. "It's a basic Akakiru Technique, didn't your Sensei teach you anything about your style?" "No." You reply with one mighty leap to close the distance. *goto leonaround2choices #Catch her blade. As she speeds across the field with the surge of an Agility Core you get to one knee and focus. When she's upon you with blade overhead she swings down with a maniacal grin, aiming for the shoulder. You pivot at the last second and clap your hands together against her blade. *set combatstat "fortitude" *set combatskill "perception" *set combatdiff 6 *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) *label succeedcatch *set leonarep + 3 Both your hands slam down on the blade and catch it with a vice grip before she can make impact against your shoulder. You look up at Leona with a taunting grin. Huh, she has one too. Suddenly the scarlet light around her sword magnifies and it vibrates in your grip. Your spiritual senses scream in warning as her blade begins to explode in a flurry of chi-slashes, like curved flying blades of energy. The first one shoots up between your palms but the next two explode into your grip and leave gouges into your palms. Before she can continue you reach up and grab her hair, ripping her face down towards her own blade. "Ow ow o-AH!" *set leonadmg + 1 She ends the Technique immediately after one of her own slashes gets her in the cheek and you take advantage of the distraction to... *else *if (ironbody) [b][Special Event: Iron Body Technique!][/b] The skin of your hands turns obsidian with the power of your Iron Body just in time to catch her attack. *goto succeedcatch Her blade passes through your hands, cutting meat off the side of your left palm on the way down as her sword glows scarlet and cleaves [b]deep[/b] into your shoulder, severing vital muscles and digging inches into your collarbone before exploding into a flurry of scarlet Bladed Chi slashes in all directions that gore the side of your chest. Blood erupts from your shoulder like a faucet. *set wounds + 2 [b][2 Wounds Suffered][/b] *gosub leonadeathcheck *page_break [Internal Screaming] *set forexp + 2 *set solexp + 1 "Holy shit!" Leona shouts, jumping back and looking suddenly panicked at your gaping shoulder-to-chest wound. "Why didn't you move out of the way?!" You cover the wound with a hand and try your best to keep the red liquid inside. "I was going to catch it." She sheathes her sword with a disgruntled slam. "No you weren't dumbass! Akakiru Style can shoot chi slashes out of a sword even if you catch it. I was trying to gauge your mastery but did your sensei even teach you [i]anything[/i] about your Style?" "No." All you want is for her to shutup while you focus on staying conscious. If she's here to kill you then she better hurry up, if she's not here to kill you then you need to get back to the caravan for healing supplies. "Come on." She shuffles forward with both arms extended, maneuvering to lift your wounded body but clearly out of her comfort zone when trying to help someone, "I have medicine back at camp. Just stop fidgeting and, damn, that's so much blood." "I don't need any...Any..." Wow, that [i]is[/i] so much blood. The last thing you see before falling to the ground is Leona taking her sword back from you with a look of disappointment. *set leonarep - 2 *if (leonaromance >= 1) *set leonaromance - 1 *page_break *goto leonawakeup *if (background = "Blacksmith") #Parry with the blade she gave you then attack with your Tanto. The two of you meet in the middle of the field with a clash of blades. Both of you ease into a rhythm of parry and assault, dancing in the field to the tune of your own blades. Then you ruin it and stab her with your Tanto. *set leonadmg + 1 "Wha..." She staggers back and leers down at your blade lodged in her waist just under her upper armor. "You already had a weapon?!" "Yes, now give it back." You lunge for the Tanto but have to give that up when she counterattacks. You barely deflect her blade with your own as she slices horizontally while leaping backwards. "Me give it back?! YOU GIVE [b]MY[/b] SWORD BACK!" Her blade glows with a disturbingly strong focus of scarlet chi and she grips it in both hands, your Tanto still embedded into her as she swings the sword sideways. An enormous arc of bladed chi rips off her blade and flies through the air. The attack rushes at you in the form of a flying ten-foot scythe blade of glowing scarlet energy. *choice #DODGE! *set combatstat "agility" *set combatdiff 5 *if (((element1 = "Wind") or (element1 = "Storm")) or (element1 = "Light")) [b][${element1} Element Event: Difficulty Lowered][/b] *line_break *set combatdiff - 1 *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) A blur of ${auracolor} light trails behind you as you dash at full speed to escape the massive energy blast. "Not bad!" Leona shouts, huffing and panting to catch her breath. "But what about when it comes back?" [i]!!![/i] Turning around quickly and leaping to the side you manage to dodge...Nothing. The attack doesn't turn around, it continues to gouge a line through the field and cut threw two trees before exploding on the third. Oh. You're not looking at Leona. By the time you turn around she's closed the gap between you but her face is flushed red from effort. She should've spent that time catching her breath. With superior vigor you counterattack first when you... *else The attack cuts through the ground like a plow on its way to you and you're able to track its movements, leaping out of the way a second too late. Her deadly attack cuts into your back and separates muscle from bone like a butcher's knife. *set wounds + 1 [b][1 Wounds Suffered][/b] *gosub leonadeathcheck Through the searing pain you know you made the right choice. If you took this attack head-on you would have died, though that's still a possibility. Fueled by adrenalin you reach your hand to the large amount of blood leaking from your back and charge at Leona, throwing a spray of blood into her face to mask your attack. #Counterblast! Even attempting to counter such a massive refined energy Technique is a death sentence. Repelling such an enormous attack made from hardened bladed chi takes an incredible amount of energy and control. But Mother didn't raise a quitter. *set combatstat "soul" *set combatdiff 6 *gosub_scene quicks discount "Earth" 1 *gosub_scene quicks discount "Ice" 1 *gosub_scene quicks discount "Darkness" 1 *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) Both your hands shoot forward *if (energytide) and the chi from all around you sucks into your arms by the call of your Energy Tide Technique. *else to channel as much chi as possible. ${auracolor} chi glows up and down your arms in strong concentration, *if ((element1 = "Ice") or (element2 = "Ice")) freezing the air around you until you're surrounded by a hovering aura of frozen ice crystals. *elseif ((element1 = "Darkness") or (element2 = "Darkness")) darkening the air around you and channeling the absorption power of primordial Yin. *elseif ((element1 = "Earth") or (element2 = "Earth")) causing the ground beneath you to shake and tripling the spiritual weight of your aura. *else humming with lethal hostile power. When Leona's flying chi-scythe reaches you it's met by an explosive release of your *if (element1 = "Darkness") void powers that swallow her Technique like a curtain wrapping her energy, absorbing the momentum and power of her attack's chi until there's nothing left. *else own energy, bursting both attacks into a rainbow eruption that fills your battlefield with a shockwave strong enough to rip up all the grass out of the ground. *set leonadmg + 1 "That's so coo-" Leona's shout over the sonic boom is cut off as you *if (element1 = "Darkness") immediately close the distance to strike. *else exit the explosion already pressing your attack. *else Maybe she should have, you think to yourself as your average chi blast gets sliced in half by her fast-approaching enormous deathscythe of bladed chi. Her attack rips into you like Jack's fat friend ripping into a pastry, shredding your forearms when you hold them up as a guard. When you give that up to avoid losing both arms you take the full brunt of the attack as it slices into your torso. *set wounds + 2 [b][2 Wounds Suffered][/b] *gosub leonadeathcheck *if ((element1 = "Fire") or (element2 = "Fire")) #Raise a wall of fire to block her view. [Fire Element, Costs 1 Chi] *set chispent + 1 You channel the burning flames inside your Cores and pull out that power into the world, igniting a huge section of the grassy field into a wall of flames just as Leona charges in. Your fires engulf the madwoman and she shrieks in pain, yet you can hear her coming closer all the same. *set leonadmg + 1 In a split second she will be outside of the flame wall and upon you. *choice #Headbutt her in the nose. "HYYAH!" Leona shouts while exiting the flamewall, sword raised overhead. You're two inches from her face. In the same moment she breaches the flames your forehead slams down on the bridge of her nose like a boulder and she's knocked [i]back into the flames[/i]. Unfortunately you're not the only one quick on your feet. In the same moment that you slam your forehead into her skull she swipes her [i]unarmed[/i] hand at you, covered in vibrating scarlet lines chi. The energy trails off her hand in spikes like a handful of knives launched at your torso. *set combatstat "fortitude" *set combatdiff 5 *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) *if (ironbody) [b][Technique Event: Iron Body][/b] *line_break [b][2 Wounds Resisted][/b] *else [b][1 Wounds Resisted][/b] *line_break [b][1 Wounds Suffered][/b] *line_break *gosub leonadeathcheck *else [b][2 Wounds Suffered][/b] *set wounds + 2 *gosub leonadeathcheck You're knocked back but recover faster than she does, [i]you're[/i] not the one on fire. She exits the flame wall one more time just as you locate her spirit and close the distance to launch your next attack. *goto leonaround2choices #Roundhouse kick her into the flamewall, the long way. *set leonadmg + 1 Your leg swings wide with the full power of your body and spirit. "SHIT SHIT!" Leona shouts as you slam her sideways. She hits the burning ground hard enough to bounce along the wall of your flames like a burning ragdoll. "FUCK!" She screams on the second bounce when landing on her hip and bouncing further at high speeds. Her curses only get worse with each bounce as she launches slashes of chi in all directions but fails to slice the flames and or stop her momentum. You doubt she can even see which direction is up. It's hard to see when you're on fire. Finally she hits the ground with her feet instead of her face and sends a massive swing of scarlet chi at the ground that wipes your flamewall away. Her aura seems to have protected even her hair from incineration but your spiritual senses tell you her Aura Pressure's paid a heavy toll for it. She looks at you through the disheveled hair in her face with a mix of scorn and appreciation. "That was dirty. My father would've said some serious local shit like 'your cowardly attack brings shame upon a thousand generations of your ancestors'" "Okay." You say, cycling power through your legs to press the attack. "Ugh, *if ((heshe = "he") and (leonaromance >= 1)) I'm so into guys that ignore me." *else that's such a clean dismissive comeback. I'm stealing it." *if (heshe = "he") *set leonaromance + 1 You're already upon her by the time she finishes that sentence. *goto leonaround2choices *label leonaround2choices *choice #Punch her in the face. *if (((power >= 5) or (((element1 = "Earth") or (element1 = "Ice")) or (element1 = "Water"))) or ((element2 = "Ice") or (element2 = "Earth"))) *if ((element1 = "Earth") or (element1 = "Ice")) [b][Element ${element1} Check Succeeded][/b] Elemental ${element1} chi swirls through your Cores and wraps around your fist in a makeshift *if (element1 = "Earth") gauntlet of rock. *elseif (element1 = "Ice") frozen gauntlet of ice. *set solexp + 4 *elseif ((element2 = "Earth") or (element2 = "Ice")) [b][Element ${element2} Check Succeeded][/b] Elemental ${element2} chi swirls through your Cores and wraps around your fist in a makeshift *if (element2 = "Earth") gauntlet of rock. *elseif (element2 = "Ice") frozen gauntlet of ice. *set solexp + 4 *else [b][Power 5 Check Succeeded][/b] *set powexp + 2 Massive amounts of ${auracolor} chi wrap into a ball of power around your hand layer-after-layer. Leona looks more than a little surprised as your fist expands to the size of her head and cracks her nose with the full force of your spiritual and physical weight. *set leonadmg + 1 *label bigfisting *set leonadmg + 1 She flies backwards across the field, skidding into a tree headfirst with a heavy crash. Immediately her taunts fill the air from inside the explosion of splinters that masks her location. "Nobody's ever fisted me like that before!" *choice #"Don't make this weird." "Don't make this weird." You call out. *set leonarep - 2 "Don't tell me what to do!" Leona screams, launching a scarlet slicing arc of Bladed Chi at you before charging out of the splinter smokescreen. You knock her ranged attack out of the way and prepare to do battle once more. *if (heshe = "he") #"Flattery will get you nowhere." "Flattery will get you nowhere." *set leonaromance + 1 *set leonarep + 1 Leona walks out of the cloud of splinters with her left gauntlet deformed, blood leaking from her wrist where the metal has dug in. She maintains eye contact with you while raising that wrist to her lips and running her tongue along the wound. "Liar." *if (heshe = "she") #"Sounds like your village's men need lessons." "Sounds like your village's men need lessons." Leona laughs from inside the cloud of splinters. "Agreed!" Suddenly the top of the cloud erupts as she leaps through it, clearing a forty-foot vertical with sword raised overhead. "Or we just need to find better men!" #[Launch a chi blast into the cloud.] *if (((soul + insight) >= 6) or (energytide)) *set leonadmg + 1 You conjure as much power as possible *if (energytide) using your Energy Tide Technique and launch a swift blast of energy at the tree she's hiding near. The explosion is wide enough to engulf the entire splinter cloud and she quickly leaps out of the blast radius, wounded and coughing. *if (heshe = "he") "So ruthless, so relentless! A man after my own heart!" *set leonaromance + 1 *else "Didn't your Mother ever teach you manners?!" *if (honor >= 50) "My Mother would have slapped the blonde off you by now." "Sounds like my kind of lady!" *else "No, did yours?" You ask back. *set leonarep + 2 "No!" Leona grins as she lands, leaping immediately into a charge to resume your fight. *else You launch an energy blast into the splinter smokescreen and see Leona leap over it just as she leaves, charging at you to resume the fight. "Chi blasts? Our sword dance isn't done yet, $!{name}! We're not done until I say we're done!" *goto fightover *else *set combatstat "power" *set combatdiff 5 *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) You summon up all your might into one shining hand and twist to the side just in time to dodge her sword strike. Your ${auracolor} glowing fist collides into her face with a cross-punch that explodes against her aura. *goto bigfisting *else Her face feels like a stone statue when your fist collides into it. In fact, you're confident you'd do more damage to a stone statue than you just did to the woman's Fortitude Core. She responds by sweeping her blade up from under you, cutting deep into your inner thigh on the way up. *set wounds + 1 [b][1 Wounds Suffered][/b] *gosub leonadeathcheck Hobbling backwards proves a winning strategy as you swing your sword horizontally to push the woman back. "I'd say you're about done." She taunts, bouncing her blade on a shoulderpad. You rip a piece off your torn pants and use it as a torniquet to stop the bleeding. "Not nearly." #Engage her in a proper melee swordfight. Parry after parry the two of your blades meet in the field, hers glowing violent scarlet and yours *if ((element1 = "Wind") or (element2 = "Wind")) glowing green, enhanced in both force and speed by the power of your Wind control. *goto elementotalk *elseif ((element1 = "Earth") or (element2 = "Earth")) glowing yellow, striking with a supernaturally enhanced weight by your chi's Earth aspects. *label elementotalk "You've infused your sword with an Element!" Leona shouts over the sound of clashing steal, "I love it, but it's not what you need!" *set solexp + 2 *else glowing white with signs of scarlet sparks showing throughout your aura. "You're getting it aren't you?" Leona shouts over the sound of clashing steel. Her blade presses against yours and she pushes you two steps back, locking eyes with menacing intensity. "The call of the sword! The fuel of your inner fire! Akakiru, the Art of the Blade! [i]The Art of Aggression[/i]!" She emphasizes her last sentence with a kick to your chest. *if (heshe = "he") *set leonaromance + 1 *set leonarep + 5 *set combatstat "agility" *set combatskill "craft" *set combatdiff 6 *if ((element1 = "Wind") or (element1 = "Earth")) *set combatdiff - 1 *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) A kick that you catch, grabbing her foot in one hand and ducking under her blade with the other, slamming your pommel down into her sideways knee before she can retaliate. *set leonadmg + 1 "GAHH!" She screams out as you hammer into her joint. Suddenly her body glows a violent scarlet and your spiritual senses scream danger. You're forced to leap back before her body erupts into sickles of scarlet chi flying all around her. You thought her knee was broken and the fight was over, but after that display of remaining power...it's going to be a long day. *else You're sent flying back into the [i]top[/i] of a tree, her strike hammering you with the force of the very first kick she used to start this fight. Unfortunately that knowledge doesn't help you at all when you collide into a thick broken tree branch that impales your spleen. *set wounds + 1 [b][1 Wounds Suffered][/b] *gosub leonadeathcheck "Hmmff!" Is all you let yourself scream out from the surprise 'attack' by the tree. Leona jumps high towards you with sword drawn back, laughing in revelry until you cup your hand along your own bleeding wound and flick blood in her eyes on arrival. She winces and spits as you use her own sword to slice her armored chest hard. She plummets back down to the ground ungracefully. You drop down from the tree and steady your breathing while your aura of life energy steadies your bleeding. It's going to be a long fight. *if (flashstep) *selectable_if (((chipool + (soul/2)) - chispent) >= 1) #Flash Step behind her for a surprise attack. [Costs 1 Chi] *set chispent + 1 The two of you clash, sword to sword, but as you reel your blade back for another swing you disappear from sight, reappearing [i]behind[/i] Leona. She doesn't catch on until it's too late and takes a piercing blade to the back that cracks into her armor. *set leonadmg + 1 "AIEE!" She screams out, leaping forward with a twist to minimize the wound. "That hurt like a stinger! You're just full of tricks, aren't you?" That should have ended it, yet she's still even willing to chat mid-fight. With a wide stance you adjust your grip on the blade. This is going to take a while. *if (background = "Trapper") #Perform a combo attack with ${rocname}. Parry after parry your sword clashes with Leona's before finally maneuvering her into position. ${rocname} soars low to the other side of the field, unseen by your assailant, and charges her from behind. "You're not bad for a rookie!" Leona shouts, kicking you backwards when your swords intertwine. "But tricks can't make up fUUAAAHHH!!" She screams as your Roc grabs her under the armpits and pulls up, soaring her ever higher into the sky. "WHAT THE FUCK!" Leona screams, "PAUSE, PAUSE THE DUEL! BEAST ATTACK!" *if (honor < 45) "You dumb bitch, that's *else "That's my Beast!" You shout back, carefully launching a two-handed chi blast just below the pair. ${rocname} drops the swordgirl right into your attack's path and her armor erupts in ${auracolor} smoke from the blast. *set leonadmg + 1 She lands shortly after with hair disheveled, face covered in burn marks and grimacing, all whimsy gone. "Pets aren't allowed in duels." *set leonarep - 2 "Then don't duel me." "RRRRAAAGGHH!" Leona charges in a rage. *label fightover *page_break The fight continues for another ten minutes, an agonizing duration for a battle between high-speed Martial Artists. *if (leonadmg <= (wounds + 1)) Despite your early success Leona leads the pace of the fight as if she were growing faster and sharper with each exchange. *set val 0 *else Despite her powers and your lack of sword expertise, you continue to lead the fight. Leona seems to grow faster and sharper as the battle rages on, as if she were energized by the encounter, but you're able to keep pace and keep the woman contained. *set val 4 *set val + (round(leonadmg * 2.5)) *set apval val *gosub_scene quicks apboost *if (weight >= chapter) *line_break *set val (4+athletics) [b][Weighted Training Bonus: Aura Pressure +${val}][/b] *set aurapressure + val *set val 0 "That's definitely enough for me." Leona finally says after *if (leonadmg <= (wounds + 1)) inflicting another chip to your blade. *else suffering a chip to her blade. *if ((wounds = 0) and (leonadmg >= 2)) *if not (jadedragonfoundation) *achieve swordandbored She sheathes her sword from across the field before wiping sweat and blood off her brow. Your own panting breath and *if (wounds >= 1) mounting wounds *else aching muscles makes the parlay appealing; your violent encounter has gone on so long that the trees surrounding your grove have been entirely wiped out. "Why?" You ask through gasping breaths, as you look through the decimated tree line and notice for the first time that the merchant caravans and all its customers left long ago. "Why what?" Leona asks back, exhausted but feigning innocence while taking a waterskin out of nowhere and drinking greedily. *label Next_whyleona "What do you mean why what? Why did you [i]attack me[/i]?" Leona spits a bit of water out. "Oh Ancestors, I meant to monologue about that! Did I forget?" Your deadpan stare seems to affect her mood more than expected. She waves two hands in front frantically, palms out. "My mistake! Well, no. Not really. Now that I think about it it's your fault for not catching on, right? I mean, it was obvious I was testing how your Akakiru training measured up to mine." *if (wounds >= 1) You look to your wounds and let out a heavy sigh. *else You let out a heavy sigh. If your talent is in swordsmanship then this might be your future, constant lethal fights as a form of greeting. "How'd I measure up?" "Oh [i]terribly[/i]." Leona says, "Your Akakiru mastery brings shame to your entire lineage and whatever pets you once *if (leonadmg > (wounds + 1)) had, but you make up for it in battle prowess. *else had. Luckily for you, I know a way to force a Style Advancement in a short timeframe. An old family secret." "And why would you do that for me?" Like Hell if you're going to accept help from another untrustworthy violent psychopath after your years of experience dealing with the unhinged Crusher family. "Because I want you to fight Crusher Jack." Well...If she puts it that way. *page_break Let the training begin. *label leonatraining "How much do you know about the Akakiru Style?" Leona asks while marching down the road alongside you. Nothing but grassy plains continue on for miles. "I know it involves a lot of sword-swinging." "Yes!" Leona shouts excitedly. "That's exactly it! Every other Style tries so hard to be mysterious or complex but the Akakiru Style is simple: just swing your damned sword." That can't be right. "Then why can't anyone figure out how to do it on their own? Normal chi doesn't stick to a sword's blade, people need trainers for that." Leona waves a gauntleted hand out dismissively. "Pish posh, that's for the rabble born without talent or different natural chi. For people born with Bladed Chi it's easier to teach them. Your soul already wants to do it, so you just do it! That's how we'll be training." "And if I didn't already have Bladed Chi?" "We'd be so fucked." She snorts out a short laugh. "I've no idea how to train someone from scratch." "Small miracles." You grumble. "And why do you want me to fight Jack anyway?" Leona stretches both arms high overhead, hands meeting and fingers interlacing above her. "Because he's the strongest." "The strongest Lower Disciple in Thunderfall maybe, if he can beat *if (ruthless > 52) me. Which he can't." *else me." "No, I mean he's the strongest fighter under 25 in all of Outer West. Maybe in all four Outer Provinces. He's favored to win the Trials." There's a short silence as you process that information, though Leona simply continues walking. Jack can't really be the strongest in the whole province, can he? He's a hometown bully that you've beaten *if (beatjack1 = 1) before, twice. *else before. Why would everyone think he's so strong? Is the rest of the region simply that weak? Not from what you've seen. Leona casually kicks a small rock off into the distance. "Did you really not know? Crusher Jack has been the talk of the caravans for weeks. Over the last year he's built fame for creating his own Techniques. If rumors are true he even sold Path Manuals on his Techniques to a Sect Master from Outer South in exchange for a treasure trove of Advancement Elixirs. It's probably true too, since the massive bastard's been on a warpath dueling Upper Disciples of every Sect on the road and [i]winning[/i]. That's why I hunted you down. I can't compete with that so I need him to lose, and they say only ${fullname} has ever beaten Crusher Jack." *choice #"Flatterer." "Flatterer." You reply dryly. She gives you a sharp smile. *if (leonaromance >= 1) "Only for you. *else "I only flatter those that deserve it. #"That was over a year ago, who knows how high his Aura Pressure is now." *set leonarep - 2 "That was over a year ago, who knows how high his Aura Pressure is now." Leona frowns at you. "Is that hesitation in your voice? Pathetic. You're supposed to say that you crushed him before and you'll crush him again! #"Damn right, and I'll do it again." *set leonarep + 2 "Damn right," you say, "I beat Jack once and I'll do it again." Leona pumps a fist in the air. "Now that's what I'm talking about! Come on, we're almost at the perfect training grounds." You look around at the barren emptiness nearby, not even a hut or tree for miles, as she trots off the path and into the grassy plains. Leona looks back with a whip of the head. "Are you coming or do I have to kick you again? That Technique costs Chi you know, *if ((heshe = "he") and (leonaromance >= 1)) don't make a girl work up a sweat if you're not willing to pay the price!" *else don't make me waste it and just get down here!" "Coming where? There's nothing around here." "Exactly!" She shouts back. The air fills with the slicing sound of steel as she slowly draws her katana. "We're north of the main road and Nanhou's to the south. That gives us a windswept plains without a soul in sight, the perfect place to throw around massive attacks." "I don't know any massive attacks." She draws her second blade and tosses it to you again. "You're about to." *page_break The sweet sound of sliding steel flows through your ears as you draw your own katana and tie the sheath to your waist. If you're going to be serious about swordfighting you need to get used to the weight of an unwieldy long piece of wood stuck to your side. "So." You say, weighing the blade. "What's first?" "Iaijutsu. Quickdrawing is the first step of any fight so it's your first step of training." She performs a set of handseals with one hand while holding her katana horizontal in the other. Scarlet chi envelopes her body and the sounds of hammer on steel can be heard with each handsign as new sigils appear on the flat of her blade. When her Seal finishes she tosses you the katana. "Switch swords and sheath this." You do as she's told, finding the swords to be matching in size. "Now try and draw it." A strength test? You rip the sword out with all your might and feel it come loose without resistance. "Too easy." "Your hand's bleeding." You look down at your own hand and see a shallow gash along the back of your hand. "What in the world..." Leona skips up to you, smiling. She leans forward and marvels at the sigils on her blade you just drew. "I bound a small Technique into it that will attack the handle when drawn. The only way around it is to draw it so fast that the attack misses. Have fun! I'll be over here reading smut romance. The [i]spicy[/i] stuff." The blonde swordgirl runs off after that, ripping fuuinjutsu tags a half-mile away to reveal a chair and collection of long scrolls. You spend the next eleven hours furiously drawing the sword as fast as possible, alone in the windswept plains. Each draw cuts your hand in the same place over and over and over and over. Each slice stays the same depth so you never sustain a true injury but after a mere ten minutes the constant nagging pain pulls a new rage out from deep inside you. Finally in the low light of the setting sun you draw the blade with such vengeful anger that scarlet chi forms around your fist. As soon as Leona's Technique strikes at your hand it's repelled by your own slicing arc of chi and the blade flies out of your hand, soaring far off into the plains. [b][1 Agility Core Spent][/b] "Good!" Leona shouts. "You finally figured out how to counter it with your own Bladed Chi!" You stare at the girl with fury unsubsided. "That's [b]not[/b] what you said to do." "I know, it was hilarious watching you try! Anyway it wouldn't have worked until you cultivated enough Bladed Chi anyway, quickdraw comes from wrapping your sword in Bladed Chi to draw it faster. You got the same result anyway, really. You're welcome." *page_break The next day you awake from your tent to find Leona still asleep in her own. You track down your sword among the plains and find it oddly easy to locate, as if deep down you knew where it was at all times. Leona awakes after you've made breakfast, steals more than half, and chews with her mouth open. "Today we want to increase your Bladed Chi capacity, how many swords do you have?" You look down at her *if (background = "Blacksmith") and your tanto. "Two" *set powexp + 1 *else katana. "One." "That won't do." Leona returns to her tent and withdraws *if (background = "Blacksmith") eight *else nine swords of various design. One of them is even overly curved which strikes you as [i]wrong[/i]. "Take your favorite meditation stance." "Like cross-legged?" "Like I don't give a shit, sit down so I can put these in place." As you drop to a kneeling meditative trance Leona stabs swords all around you, edges facing against your skin. When she finally has all ten in place she dusts her hands off and looks at her handiwork with pride. "Not bad, now lets get them closer." With one eye cracking open you look back to Leona. "They're already touching me with the blades." "I know." Leona says, then all ten blades glow scarlet and press another half-inch against you, surrounding you with blades pressed into your skin and threatening to cut you open should you move a muscle. "There!" Leona shouts in satisfaction. "Now do your best to power up your Bladed Chi and [i]only[/i] your Bladed Chi. Our muscles tense when powering up, so you'll cut yourself bad if you generate anything but the Akakiru aura that can control the blades. Goodluck!" "Where are you going?!" You shout as she starts running off. "To get water and healing herbs!" She shouts back. "You're about to lose [i]so much[/i] blood!" She's not wrong. When your ${auracolor} aura charges up around your body the blades sink into your flesh simultaneously. You lose more blood in the next thirty minutes than you have since leaving Thunderfall Village. However, slowly yet surely the pain subsides and the cuts become less deep, less sharp, and less common as you get the hang of controlling your Bladed Chi. *set forspent + 1 [b][1 Fortitude Core Spent][/b] Leona returns every four hours to force-feed you some sort of medicinal soup and you thank the Heavens that it doesn't taste like Mother's. *page_break "TODAY'S THE DAY!" Leona screams into your ear from *if (heshe = "he") inside your tent. You leap and reflexively prepare for combat, wrapping yourself up in your own tent. With how little room there was you wrap her up too until a maroon explosion destroys the tent in its entirety. Shreds of its tan cloth rain around you as Leona beams *if ((heshe = "he") and (bodytype != "Manlet")) up at you. *else at you. She enthusiastically whispers, "Today's the day." *else right outside your tent. You leap and reflexively prepare for combat, wrapping yourself up in your own tent. A flurry of scarlet light slash through the lining until enough tent around your face has been destroyed so you can see Leona. Shreds of its tan cloth rain around you as Leona nods decisively with a wide smile. "Today's the day." "What day?" You ask groggily, still barely awake. "The day we get on the road to Nanhou! A wagon came through and stopped outside our camp." She points to the road cutting through the plains, two miles off in the distance. "Your next training will be leashing your Bladed Chi to a sword, it's something you can do facing out the back of the wagon while I drive." Both of you pack up what's left of your belongings and get to the wagon only to find two horses and no driver. You've never seen such a blatant trap in your life. "Isn't this weird?" You ask Leona. "Driverless wagons don't appear out of nowhere." Leona groans. "And here I thought you were going to leave the quiet part by the wayside. I stole the wagon, obviously. *if (heshe = "he") Now turn around so a girl can change." She motions to a set of commoner clothing on the driver's seat of the wagon that must have belonged to the original owner. *if (ruthless >= 54) You snicker at the idea of some naked fool running around in distress. Heh. Commoners. *else You sigh at the idea of some poor commoner out there; wagonless, naked, and afraid. *choice #Turn around. *set honor + 2 *set ruthless - 1 Ever the gentleman, you turn and leave to the back of the wagon while she changes. #Refuse to turn around. *set leonaromance + 1 *set leonarep + 3 Leona gives you a waiting look that slowly melts into a genuine smile, wide and everpleased. "I knew you were a man with taste." She unbuckles her breastplate and greaves while maintaining eye contact. When she tosses those aside and you haven't looked away she nods in satisfaction, carefully pulling her undershirt over her head and bending at the waist to strip out of her pants ever so slowly. You get a full look at the voluptuous woman in the reflecting light of the rising sun. It's a memory you'll be holding onto for quite some time. "Now hurry into the back." She says, halfheartedly covering herself with both arms to play coy. "You're the one learning to work a sword today, not me." *else Now come on, we've got training to do." She unbuckles her armor and changes into what must be the former driver's clothes. *if (ruthless >= 54) You snicker at the idea of some naked fool running around in distress. Heh. Commoners. *else You sigh at the idea of some poor commoner out there; wagonless, naked, and afraid. Four more swords are stabbed into the back of the wagon and glowing with the scarlet feint wisps of Bladed Chi. "Those are for your cultivation!" Leona shouts from the front. "Cultivation blades are hard to come by so don't break them!" "Just how many swords do you have?" You call to the front of the wagon. *if (heshe = "he") "Never ask a girl her age or swordcount." *else "A girl's got to keep some secrets." She shouts back. "Now grab your sword and focus your Bladed Chi into it. And point the thing [i]away[/i] from the wagon for Heaven's sake. With the help of those cultivation blades you should be able to channel your Bladed Chi into launching small attacks out the back of the wagon before sunset. Rest every 15 minutes for water, the back is full of barrels of the stuff. One for whiskey too but that's not until you finish." She slaps the reigns and the horses take off at a decent pace. You thought you were done cutting yourself on cultivation blades but the bumpy road proves you wrong. After fourteen hours of blowing through your chi reserves and blood supply your back is in tatters and you've managed to focus your Bladed Chi into the blade properly, using your blood as a focus at first as a joke. It worked. From there you learn to wean off the crutch and launch Bladed Chi around and off the blade in meager amounts, launching small sickles of solid chi into the dirt as you travel. *set solspent + 1 [b][1 Soul Core Spent][/b] *page_break When you wake the next day in the back of the wagon you find it's stopped. Getting out reveals you're on a hilltop surrounded by small farms and houses along a crossroads. At a neighboring hill Leona is coming back with two massive logs as wide as a wagon wheel held over each of her shoulders. She pouts when you see her. "I was going to drop these on you!" *if (honor >= 54) "You wouldn't like the result." You reply sternly. "Oof, the way you say it all serious makes me think I would have. *else "You still can." You say with a shrug. "No, it's lost its appeal if you're not sleeping. Follow me, we've got the last steps of your training today." She leads you to a flat stretch of land between the hills and drops both giant logs, you find that they're even taller than they were wide. Leona exhales hard after dropping both and looks back to you. "We need to increase your Bladed Chi output. I want you to cut through these." You examine the thick hardwood logs. "That could hurt your blade." "Hurt my...? Demon's tits $!{name}, not with a [i]sword[/i], I want you to cut them with only your Bladed Chi!" She stomps one foot forward in instant frustration. "Do NOT hit the hardwood with my physical blades, is that clear?" With a heavy inhale you brush the girl aside and draw your sword back, charging it with your meager scarlet Bladed Chi as you did all yesterday. If this is what it takes to gain power then it's just another chore. You've done a million chores in your life, what's one more? Minute by minute you cycle your chi through focused breaths and sheath the blade in as much scarlet Bladed Chi as possible, then unleash your power through the air. After the first few swings you step directly in front of the logs so your airborne chi slashes lose as little power as possible, but the cuts still barely dent through the wood. By the first hour you've gotten through a few inches of bark. By the end of the night you haven't gotten a quarter of the way through one of the logs, instead eviscerating its front and your spiritual chi channels simultaneously. *set powspent + 1 [b][1 Power Core Spent][/b] "Not bad." Leona says, leaning over to look at the damaged log. The other is completely untouched. "An old trick my father taught me, play off one's pride by presenting a difficult task as a simple one. He loved to talk all that old sage shit." She nods at your work and kicks the log endearingly. "One of these logs should have been a month-long exercise, I only brought two so you'd try twice as hard." You give a thumbs up from the ground, desperately resting. "Come on." Leona says. "We're going to miss the Trials." Aw Hells. *page_break The two of you run through the night to get to Nanhou in time, passing more and more farms, crossroads, and walled communities as you approach the coast. Finally you crest a hill and see a sight that takes your breath away: the ocean, as beautiful as it is intimidating. Growing up in the mountains around Thunderfall Village meant you've never actually seen the ocean, only the large lakes of snowmelt that freeze early in the autumn due to your town's high elevation. To be down here, in the warm glow of the sun, where you see the vast and imposing view of the ocean continuing on farther than any sight of your life... It's majestic. And you haven't the energy to appreciate it. The moment you crest that hill your legs give out and you collapse to the ground, drained of power and lacking rest. "Finally!" Leona says, leaning over and wheezing. "I was worried you'd last the whole day too. For our [i]last[/i] training I need you completely empty of power. Your body and soul have learned to produce Bladed Chi, sure, but-" She cuts off and catches her breath for a while. "But it'll be a year before you [i]only[/i] produce Bladed Chi. You'll keep being diluted with that white-grey haze of unaligned chi for the entirety of the Trials...Unless we fuck with it." You groan face-down in the grass. Leona kneels next to you and sucks air through her teeth. "The only way to trick your spirit into making only Bladed Chi this early is to empty your Cores entirely and surround the raw center of your spirit with Bladed Chi, like my chi, so it takes to the idea that that's what chi is supposed to be. I won't lie, it'll hurt. You'll feel a fever and I'll take days to *if (roc >= 1) recover." Leona trails off, as if staring into the distance. "So before we do this...Can I pet your bird?" "CAW!" Shouts ${rocname} from a distance hill. "She says 'no and fuck off'." You translate. A total guess and completely correct. "Fine." She says in the way that tells you it's not fine. "Let's get this over with. *else recover. We should never do it, but hey, Trials are a bitch and so am I." You groan into the grass again, this time in agreement. "I'm so glad we're on the same page." Leona says with a wide, yawning stretch. "Let's fuck ourselves up." The woman glows scarlet next to your body, slices of chi cutting the ground around her in a circle. She performs an unfamiliar handseal formation and you close your eyes to focus on expelling any last vestiges of chi out of your chipool. Suddenly a presence rips open in your spiritual senses, a hurricane of danger. A storm of blades. Leona's spirit. It rushes into and over you like a hundred swords pressed against your skin. You try to fight it back but feel a spark from deep within your own Cores: a parrying force. A single, tangible sword cutting through the slashing invasion. Your own Bladed Chi. The sensation of being sliced and skewered is overcome as the chaotic Bladed Chi all around you dwindles over the next ten minutes of struggle, replaced by a sharp vortex at the center of your own spirit that grows in potential, though not in size. Yet. When at last Leona's foreign chi is gone you feel that your own aura has taken on a new meaning, a new form. Your chi reserves remain empty and your aura remains weak but it feels healthy. When your power returns it should be a full aura of Bladed Chi. Yet something more calls to you. Two of the Akakiru effects that you haphazardly called upon during training solidify in your soul like new instincts, specifically from *set val 0 *set leonarep + 5 *label akanewtechs *if (val = 0) the... *else The second new power resonating through your soul comes from the... *choice *disable_reuse #Quickdraw Training. [Thievery Increase + Agility Surge Bonus] *gosub_scene quicks learntech 3130760000000000 "Iaijutsu" "Passively increases Thievery by +1. Increases Agility Surge by +1 when focused." [b][Learning this Technique passively increases your Thievery by +1.][/b] *line_break [b][While focused to the Agility Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Agility Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Agility checks.][/b] *disable_reuse #Sword-aura Meditation. [Passive Health Increase] *gosub_scene quicks learntech 5000000002000000 "Battlescarred" "Passively increases Health Pool by +1." [b][This technique passively increases your Health Pool by +1.][/b] *disable_reuse #Energy Sword Training. [Aura Pressure Increase + Free Weapon] *gosub_scene quicks learntech 5000000020000000 "Soulforge" "Passively increases Aura Pressure by +10. Creates a powerful weapon for free when learned." [b][This Technique teaches how to create a sword of pure energy. Besides the Power Core used to create it, choose which type of energy it is infused with below:][/b] *choice #A chi-blade forged from my Fortitude Core. [+1 Fortitude when equipped] *set itemchiblade 111702000 #A chi-blade forged from my Agility Core. [+1 Agility when equipped] *set itemchiblade 111703000 #A chi-blade forged from my Soul Core. [+1 Soul when equipped] *set itemchiblade 111704000 [b][Item Acquired: Soulstealing Chi Blade][/b] *disable_reuse #Chi Output Training. [Athletics Bonus + Power Surge Bonus] *gosub_scene quicks learntech 1110270000000000 "Cleave" "Passively increases Athletics by +1. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused." [b][Learning this Technique passively increases your Athletics by +1.][/b] *line_break [b][While equipped to the Power Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Power Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Power checks.][/b] *if (val = 0) *set val + 1 *goto akanewtechs The process feels invigorating at first but that surge of energy falls flat almost immediately, replaced with a heavy fatigue as your body heats up. You lean over to catch your breath but your arm braced against the ground completely gives up, collapsing you onto the hilltop's lush grass. Leona lies on the ground as well, head facedown and hair cast around her head in every direction like an absolute mess. Her thumb weakly lifts from a single closed fist. "I'm the....best..." The hand falls gently to the side as unconsciousness grips her. It's not a bad idea, you decide, and accept the embrace of sleep with nothing but excitement at the prospects of what tomorrow will br- Another presence appears. Moments later all you hear is the crunching of grass. A silver colored pantleg steps over you and snickers, lightly kicking your head with the other foot as the man passes by. A dozen more men and women follow and one men collects Leona's body, hauling the swordgirl onto the intruder's shoulder. Each of the newcomers is dressed in silver and yellow combat gi. The uniform of the Sunbringers. "A good haul." Says one of the Sunbringer men. "Indeed, not just a useful sacrifice *label taioreveal *set stylerank + 1 but I've captured you a Thunderfaller as a trophy." Says a familiar voice. "A taste of your revenge to come, as promised. Carry them back to the pit." Every muscle in your neck strains as you look up and see the face of the man you know it to be. "Taio." You snarl at the crimson monk. "You bastard, how did you find me?" "Oh? We've met?" Sickening crimson-red chi forms between the man's palms as he rubs his hands together. "Scratch that order everyone, bring them instead to the cages for torture." Taio crouches low and smiles wide as his glowing hand grips your neck and squeezes. Just before the darkness takes you he looks into your exhausted eyes. "I cannot wait to learn what my other self was up to." *page_break Taio!! *gosub_scene quicks timepass *set underlings + tmpunderlings *finish *elseif (style = "Kiihakai") *if not (goldside) You rest in the local inn for the night and surprisingly find no problems. Just a nice bed, a morning tea, and an odd Lunargothic breakfast for the road called a "baguette", which looks like a stuffed bun doing its best impression of a walking stick. Speaking of walking, it's sunrise so it's time to hit the road. Not two miles outside of the large town, with the ramie fields still in view behind you, two wagons approach you from the west and stop at a pond up ahead. Several purple-clad figures get out and have already setup camp by the time you get there. "Are we ready for the sunset ritual?" Asks a familiar voice as you pass by, licking your fingers after finishing the ridiculous yet tasty baguette. Damn, did they bake cheese into it? Geniuses. "Long time no see, Desdemona." You say casually, passing by the purple-clad Dreamriver Sect with an air of mystique. There's more of them now than there was before and a couple jump in surprise when you announce yourself. Desdemona herself rises from the pond's edge, kneeling with a bowl of its water in her hands as she turns to see you. *if (purpleside) She [i]almost[/i] smiles. "Thunderfaller, I didn't expect we'd meet again so soon. *else "Ah, the ${manwoman} from Thunderfall. Have you come to join in on our auspice sunset ritual?" That sounds like a distraction you don't need. *if (honor > 53) "Apologies, I must decline. *else "I'll have to pass. I can't sit around a lake all day waiting for sunset." "What do you mean? We won't be staying out here, our shadow divination requires staying in darkness for hours on end. We've only exited the covered wagons for sunrise and sunset." She looks to the east where the sun is rising. "We can perform the sunset ritual right now." Oh no. Oh Ancestors. "Desdemona..." From inside a wagon you hear a female disciple correct you. "It's [i]Lady[/i] Desdemona!" "Fine, Lady Desdemona, that's not the sunset. That's the east. It's the sunrise. When did you even have time to get closer to Nanhou and turn around?" Desdemona rolls her eyes and withdraws a clay tablet from her satchel. "I know my maps by now, Thunderfaller, look right here it says-er, it says...Oh by the Hells, not again!" She unceremoniously throws the clay tablet over the lake and blows it up with a golden energy blast. You can't see her face at this angle but from the way her long dark hair and robed shoulders shake she must be restraining a noticeable amount of violence. One of her male disciples looks from the pond to his Sect Mistress, deeply concerned. "Lady Desdemona...You did not get the directions mixed up again, did you?" "Shut up." She snaps out immediately. "Shut up right now. Who decided to use an 'E' and a 'W' when they're the same after rotating? And the same with a sharply drawn 'S' and an 'N'! Who is designing these maps?! Idiots! Fools!" This looks like a her-problem more than a you-problem. "It seems the esteemed Sect Mistress is busy. I'll see myself out." "Like HELLS you will!" She shouts out, spinning in place and pointing a finger at you in accusation. "${fullname}, I've finally found you again and I demand an Alliance!" Huh? *choice #"An alliance for what?" "An alliance for what?" You ask, cautious to bind yourself to any bad deals when you already have so much to do. "For the Trials and an important mission in Nanhou." Desdemona says more casually, noticeably calming down after her outburst and smoothing out her robe. "I want to ally my Dreamriver Sect to your small Clan, it should be a good deal for you." *goto askdeswhy #"Okay." *set val 888 "Okay." You say immediately. Desdemona freezes. "Oh." She fidgets with her robe's sleeves hesitantly. "Um, that's it? Just okay? You're not going to make any demands or ask questions?" *if (heshe = "he") *choice #"Nope, none." *label nopenone "Nope, none." "Huh." Desdemona looks around to her disciples as if lost and unsure where to go from here. They each shrug. "Well...Good. That's great news. Welcome to your new alliance with the Dreamriver Sect." "So what's our first goal? You must need an alliance for something specific, why'd you ask in the first place?" *goto askdeswhy2 #"I'm not going to hesitate allying with the most beautiful woman in Outer West." *set desrep + 2 *if ((heshe = "he") and (bodytype != "Manlet")) *set desromance + 1 "I'm not going to hesitate allying with the most beautiful woman in Outer West." Desdemona stares at you with mouth slightly open. You can't tell if she's analyzing you or simply surprised. One of her female disciples uses that chance to shout out, "Cut that out, flattery won't win over our Lady of the Dreamriver Sect!" You give the girl a quick nod. "Then I'll win her over with results." Then you turn to match Desdemona's gaze once more. "Why did you seek me out anyway? It couldn't have just been my good looks." Desdemona rolls her eyes, looking away for the briefest of moments. Finally she takes in a big breath and looks back with a serious expression. *goto askdeswhy2 *else *goto nopenone #"You'll have to talk to my Sect Master about that." "You'll have to talk to my Sect Master about that." You reply to her demands. "It's not as if I can talk on behalf of Thunderfall." "I don't care about Thunderfall." Desdemona says, calming down and smoothing out her robe, "I care about the ${clan} Clan. I want to ally the Dreamriver Sect to you." *label askdeswhy "...why?" *label askdeswhy2 "Because everyone on the road won't stop talking about Thunderfall's scion, the prodigy." Your chest puffs with pride. It hadn't occurred that you'd become famous enough to be sought out by an entire Sect, no matter how small. "Crusher Jack." Desdemona finishes. Your chest deflates. "I've heard nothing but praise about the same person for the last week as he gathers fame on the road. How he's invented his own Techniques and mastered several others, how he's beaten Upper Disciples of multiple Sects, how he's the best of our generation. But then...then I find out he's been defeated before, by one ${manwoman}. A ${manwoman} named ${fullname}." It's hard to feel pride after that tirade. Has Jack really gotten so strong? *if (jadedragonfoundation) You thought you'd left him far behind when your Jade Dragon Foundation stabilized, but if he's beating Upper Disciples then he could still be a problem...but how did he gain such power? *else You couldn't imagine beating an Upper Disciple like Big *if (ruthless >= 53) Chu, not that you'd admit it out loud. *else Chu. "Imagine my luck when I find out I've met the famous Crusher Jack's rival." Wind from the pond knocks Desdemona's hair over her face and she flips a strand over her shoulder in annoyance. "You should have told me you were that strong." "Flattering, but I beat him years ago. I haven't even seen Jack since last year, though I'm about to. That *if (ruthless > 53) asshole *else coward abducted my siblings and I'm going to *if (ruthless >= 50) kick his ass in Nanhou to take them back." Desdemona smiles but there's no warmth in her expression. It's a sinister smile, one of malice and ill intent. "Oh $!{name}, I think we will work perfectly together. I'd like to use your power to save my friends and family *if not (purpleside) from their own abductors in Nanhou and, in exchange, I will teach you Kiihakai so you can save yours." *if (val = 888) Mystical power [i]and[/i] help with your revenge? Your smile matches her own. "You've got yourself a deal." *else That actually sounds like a noble goal. "That's a hard offer to pass up. But why do you..." "Lady Desdemona," whispers her female disciple you remember from the barn, "your smile is unnerving everyone, please do not wear that expression ever again." Desdemona gives her apprentice a side-eye glance and huffs. "You're all no fun. This is why I'm always frowning." "Please continue to do so." Begs one of the male disciples. *goto desdemonatraining *elseif (goldside) The murmurs of the crowd slowly die out to be replaced by a single female voice, as if the world slipped away and only she remained. "By the twelve signs of the Auspicious Legends, under the Million Stars of the Ambient Night, let those with great sin meet grizzly ends, see them perish without a fight!" Oh, shit. That sounds like Desdemona's voice. And that sounds like a curse. *page_break Where did the sun go? Darkness envelopes your vision and something grabs onto your limbs. Before you know it you're wrapped in strange tendrils of shadow that restrict your motions like bands of rubber, the more you resist them the harder it is to move. You've no idea what happened to the market you were just standing in, but now all you see around you is a world of shadowy clouds. A voice comes from the darkness. Desdemona's voice, as if sending ice cold daggers with every word. "You thought you'd get away with crossing me, did you little ${manwoman}? Well now you'll learn what happens when you cross the Mistress of the Dreamriver Sect." You feel the spiritual tinge of chi sorcery in the air. "By the empathetic power of blood, with an oath of vengeance called anew, I declare your death with these words, and poison your soul's chi against you!" A soft golden spark emits near your left eye and another on your right buttcheek. They sting a bit. Things get real quiet after that for a good five seconds. "...Um." Desdemona says. The shuffling of papers can be heard through the darkness followed by some muffled whispering. "You said it was Kiihakai right?" "I'm positive ${heshe} has a Kiihakai aura," responds a man's whisper, "maybe it doesn't work if we use Kiihakai too?" "No no," says a second woman's hushed voice, "what if ${heshe} wasn't trained properly in Kiihakai? Wouldn't ${heshe} not have enough Mystic Chi to ignite for the ritual?" Desdemona sighs so loudly that it turns into a groan. "You there, Thunderfaller, is your soul attuned to Mystic Chi or something else?" *choice #"Mystic what?" "Mystic what?" You ask. Last time you checked mysticism comes from Handseals. No one can have an aura made from Handseals. What a *if (heshe = "she") moron. *else stupid woman. "Mystic chi," She reiterates, "the personal well of living yang energy? The source of chi sorcery and foundation of the Kiihakai martial ar-you know what, forget it. I'm wasting my time here." Her voice gets slightly quieter, as if talking to someone behind her. "$!{heshe} doesn't know Kiihakai." #"You have me mistaken for someone that receives actual training." *set desrep + 1 *goto hisnamewassethrich #"Absolutely." "Absolutely." You lie. "I've mastered mysticism of the Mystic Chi the likes of which you couldn't comprehend, now let me out of here if you know what's-" "$!{heshe} doesn't know anything." Says a female voice beside Desdemona's. "Not even a basic counterseal, otherwise ${heshe} would be casting it." *if (countersealritual != 100) You do your best to contain your grin. She's in for quite the surprise. *else "Hey now," you reply, trying to save your bluff, "shut up." "So what do we all do now?" Desdemona asks the disembodied voices, "the only curse we brought won't work if ${heshe} doesn't know Kiihakai." *if (heshe = "he") #"My soul is attuned to that luscious, massive chest of yours." *set desrep - 2 *set desromance + 1 "My soul is attuned to that luscious, massive chest of yours." Is all you offer in response to the busty Lunargothic witch. If you're going to die here then why not have a good time doing it. That's what you've apparently decided. A loud thump can be heard, akin to a book falling or a forehead slamming onto a wooden table. "I told you we should have hired an assassin." "Lady Desdemona," says the man, "who would we hire? And with what money?" "UGH. Just once I want a curse to go right, why does Kurokonton get all the good curses and Kiihakai gets nothing but convoluted incantations?" *label hisnamewassethrich "If I'm getting this right," you begin to chuckle mid-sentence, "this curse only works if my Sect mentors actually cared enough to train me in a Style. Oh Ancestors, did you pick the wrong *if (heshe = "he") guy. *else girl. Besides, isn't Kiihakai from the Mystic Lands anyway? How in the world would I know it?" "Not every mentor is in the Inner Kingdoms," Desdemona corrects from the shadows, still sounding defeated, "the Sunbringers run an entire Sect of Kiihakai practitioners. Or did, until your master killed theirs." You laugh at that more than you expected. "I don't think the Sunbringers would train a Thunderfaller anyway. Hell, even the Thunderfallers aren't going to train a Thunderfaller, seeing as the bastards would rather kidnap my family." For the first time you see something besides the darkness in this curse; Desdemona steps out of the fog looking concerned and confused. "What do you mean about kidnapping your family? They're Thunderfallers too, are they not? Why would a Sect abduct its own?" Ah, another person seeking out your tragic backstory. You take in a long breath. "Pettiness. I've been in a feud with my Sect Master's son, Crusher Jack, since we were kids when my family was Laborer Caste. We were promoted to Warrior Caste for political reasons and Jack never got over it. He came back while I was busy training and took my brother Jin and my sister Rin to the Heavenly Ascension Trials without any preparations. They're not built for the Martial Arts, they could die out there. I'm going to Nanhou to save them." Desdemona's tone does not lighten, it does not gain sympathy, and in fact, it grows more scornful instead. "That sounds familiar. Insultingly familiar. If you're a victim of family abductions as well then why did you side with that scumbag Guiren? Didn't you feel an ounce of irony or pity or [i]shame[/i] inflicting the same pain on me that you're going through yourself?" Oh. Huh. "...Would you believe me if I said I forgot about it at the time?" Desdemona scrutinizes you with pursed lips, eyes glaring deeper into your soul for a long, tense moment until she finally breaks the silence: "Are you retarded?" *choice #"It appears so." You motion at your surroundings, the shifting abyssal prison in which your actions have lead you. "It appears I am retarded, yes." #[Stay silent] *set val 0 *selectable_if (((power + handseals) >= 6) or (countersealritual != 100)) #"You dare speak to me with such insolence?" *if ((power + handseals) >= 6) [b][Power + Handseals 6 Check Passed][/b] *set powexp + 2 *set solexp + 2 "You dare speak to me with such insolence?" Enough is enough. The power of your ${auracolor} aura surges around you as your fingers, still bound under tendrils of shadow, form into the zodiac Seal formations of *if (countersealritual != 100) your Counterseal ritual. *else a repelling charm. *set apval 5 *gosub_scene quicks apboost With the mystic effect and brute force of your aura, Desdemona's ritual shatters and the darkness disappears. *label counterseal Suddenly you're standing in a field near a wagon, the sun bearing down on you, with Desdemona and two of her purple-gi disciples sitting on a table covered in scrolls. The disciples look shocked in horror while Desdemona looks thoroughly *if (heshe = "he") surprised and [i]thoroughly[/i] impressed. *else surprised, holding her hands up in surrender. *set desrep + 4 *page_break "Now that's a power we could certainly use." Desdemona *if ((heshe = "he") and (bodytype != "Manlet")) *set desromance + 1 says in a more sultry tone, *else says, oblivious to the danger she's in. "And what makes you think you can use me?" You take one stride forward and *if (countersealritual != 100) prepare a more violent incantation. *else brace yourself to attack. "By being useful, of course." Desdemona replies, withdrawing a golden tome from one of her bookbags. "I'm no fool, I already showed my hand so we can't manipulate you if we're enemies. Instead I'll offer you this: I will teach you Kiihakai, the Art of Chi Sorcery, and you will find it so useful that you will simply like me enough to aid me later in the Trials." "And if I don't?" *if (desromance >= 1) Desdemona laughs dismissively. "I'm not worried about that. I give good lessons." *else Desdemona shrugs nonchalantly, looking over her shoulder as if bored. "Then I will have wasted my time." You're not accustomed to being on the side of the appeased. You pause in battle-ready stance, breathing heavily from the strain of breaking the three caster's combined ritual. "So...we're not fighting? I wasn't expecting to walk out of this without fighting." Desdemona nods as if explaining something simple. "I am aware, that is why I bribed you. Now lets unlock your potential in Mystic Chi so we can both see the finals together." *goto desdemonatraining *selectable_if (countersealritual != 100) #"I've heard enough." [Cast a Counterseal for ${countersealritual} Ritual Components.] "I've heard enough." You say, invoking the zodiac handsigns of a Counterseal in quick succession. Smoke rises around you like coiling snakes, hissing at the darkness all around. The snakes open their mouths and inhale deeply, pulling the very Darkness itself into their bodies until the illusion rips away. *set apval 10 *gosub_scene quicks apboost *goto counterseal Desdemona hangs her head, one hand on her forehead and the other on her hip. "I don't even know what to do anymore. I can't let you go, I can't kill you, and this ritual won't hold forever." After a short silence you hear a defeated huff. "Are you willing to make a deal?" "That depends on what kind of deal." "The kind where we both get of our loved ones back from their captors, then hopefully never see each other again after." You almost bark out a laugh. "Why in the world would we trust each other?" "Because we each have something the other wants. I need an agent my enemies don't suspect, and you need a trainer in the Kiihakai martial art Style." She leans forward, puffs a strand of hair out of her face, and stares deep into your eyes. *if ((desromance >= 1) and (heshe = "he")) Her purple lips tease a smile revealing the vibrant white of her teeth with each word. "What do you say, Thunderfaller? How would you like the powers of Chi Sorcery?" That's a hard bargain to pass up, but who knows how many enemies you'll make helping out her Sect? Then again, you have almost nothing [i]but[/i] enemies. Gaining an alliance for the first time would be a refreshing change of pace. You stare long and hard *if ((desromance >= 1) and (heshe = "he")) at her chest in thought. "You've got yourself a deal." *else [b][ERROR! Neither goldside nor not goldside!][/b] *label desdemonatraining "How much do you know about the Kiihakai Style?" Desdemona asks while sitting across from you by the calm lake waters in meditation. Two of her apprentices cast rods into the lake. You know it's the vile Sunbringer style, but that's not a good answer. "I know it's got something to do with magic and energy blasts." "Ignorance. Disgusting. That sums up how it looks to the unenlightened, yes, but for the practitioner there is so much more to know. As a martial art it is about channeling the yang-focused living energy of Mystic Chi." "Living energy like healing energy?" Desdemona shakes her head, looking off in recollection. "It can heal the body in certain ways, but it is not about [i]our[/i] life. The focus in Kiihakai is that the energy itself is alive. People think of chi sorcery as some mysterious arcane study, which it is, but at the foundation it is merely a hunt for different ways to channel commands to your chi. Picture this: if you could tell your own energy to do something later, when you're not even around, what would you tell it to do?" "Get stronger." You say immediately. A twitch at the corner of her mouth threatens to turn into a smile. "And maybe it could, if you found the right way to command it. But say I know how to cook and my disciple doesn't." She nods to a campfire nearby where an apprentice is cooking dumpling soup in a cauldron. "Kiihakai's Chi Sorcery can aid him in that cooking because my chi has [i]my[/i] will, [i]my[/i] understanding. People think I cast a spell on my disciple to make him a better cook, and yes, it can be described that way, but really I leave a fraction of my Mystic Chi with him. That fraction of chi is given a bit of power and a set of commands to perform when the time is right." She flicks her hands at the campfire. Her apprentice looks up to see a soft golden glow around his cooking tools. He frowns. "Lady Desdemona, am [i]I[/i] the one that you said doesn't know how to cook? I know how to cook!" Desdemona ignores him. "If I know he should let the fire get hotter, my chi can fuel the fire even if I'm not there to see it." Her disciple jumps back as the campfire expands. "If I know he has to stir whatever he's cooking, my chi will do that at the right time." The cauldron shakes clockwise as if being stirred. "And if I know it's time to take something off the fire my chi might snuff the flames." The fire dies out and her disciple looks over to you both in frustration. "That's all chi sorcery is. At advanced levels it can incorporate Handseals or Elements, but all I did this time was apply a bit of force in different ways, which any basic energy blast could do. The only difference is my chi applies that force with careful precision, planning, and purpose." "That's it?" You ask. Originally you'd envisioned reading a hundred ancient and secret tomes to learn the Kiihakai style's chi sorcery but this sounds...simple. "That is it. Chi sorcery has a million applications and the only real limit is your imagination. Though we'll be focusing on the most important use for your training, which is combat applications. This is a martial art, after all." "What kind of combat applications?" *if (desromance >= 2) She leans so far forward that you can see down her robes *else She leans forward and her dark gaze grows intense. "Have you ever wondered how differently an energy attack would function if it wanted to win as badly as you did? Or how useful a handseal could be if it knew how to cast itself while you fought?" Glowing golden ritual circles light up on the ground around you. "Because you're about to learn." *page_break When you awake you're surrounded by dark foggy clouds of various thickness obscuring your vision in all directions. *if (goldside) Again. *else You don't remember falling asleep. "Desdemona?" You call out. "Are we training or *if (goldside) is this another attack?" "Both." *else not?" "Your training in Mystic Chi has already begun." She replies as the fog parts just enough for you to see her in purple combat gi twenty feet away, standing on nothing but darkness. You look down and realize you're floating on air too. Desdemona waves her arms around to your surroundings. "This is all in your head." You gaze into the nothingness. "It's empty." "Humorous, I'm aware. I've weaved you into *if (goldside) another *else a dream by infusing my Mystic Chi into an inverted dreamcatcher Seal. The real you is likely asleep by the lake." "Likely?" You don't like the sound of that. "I cannot know, the woman before you is not the real me. I am a part of your dream as well," says Dreamdemona, "made to instruct you on the first two courses or we'd never make it in time for the Trials. The amount of inner chi you must spend to master Kiihakai is staggering. You simply cannot generate enough in time. That is why we're in here, so you can practice spending chi freely." A time-accelerated training? This is incredible! You could learn a thousand Techniques this way and- Dreamdemona huffs. "Don't be ridiculous, it doesn't work that way. You won't remember any of this and Techniques take specific exercises, imbibements, spiritual infusions, it's just impossible to learn anything complex in your dreams unless you're already doing it in the real world. Learning to generate Mystic Chi when you're born with a minor Mystic Chi talent is one of the few things you can actually do while asleep." You blink unexpectedly at the girl's preaching. "Desdemona, I didn't say anything." "I am a figment of your dream. Your thoughts and I are one." Oh crap, she knows you're thinking about... *temp pup false *choice #Puppies. *set pup true *set ruthless - 2 *set desrep + 4 *if ((heshe = "he") and (bodytype != "Manlet")) *set desromance + 1 A dozen puppies dash playfully around the dark foggy 'ground' in between your and Dreamdemona's legs, their tails wagging and some even have the longer ears that flop about as they play. She picks one up and pets it. "Finally, some quality dream material." "Glad you approve." "You should be." She hefts the puppy under one arm and raises the other. "Now pay attention." #Arson. *set ruthless + 2 *set desrep - 1 Sweat exudes from your pores as the area grows hotter and hotter. "Ugh." Desemona looks around in disgust, her hair suddenly soaked with sweat. She removes the top half of her gi to reveal only a black sleeveless undershirt. "Next time imagine something more enjoyable. Now get serious. It's time to begin." #Udon noodle soup with fried eggs and chili paste. *set honor - 2 *set desrep + 2 Both you and Dreamdemona hold a pair of chopsticks in one hand and a bowl of udon noodle soup with fried eggs and chili paste in the other as if they had always been there. Dreamdemona twirls the noodles around her chopsticks and slurps, then swallows with a look of satisfaction. "Not bad. Now let's get serious, you're here to train." "Can't I finish this first?" "No." #Completing the Trials, becoming an Archon, rising to the highest echelons of society, and instating a national draft across all four Outer Lands to raise millions of undisciplined louts into something respectable no matter how much they complain. *set honor + 4 *set powexp + 4 Men and women march out of the dark fog wearing gi emblazoned with a crest that looks strikingly like your face. They all hold enormous wooden shields that look more like doors, and as they circle around you they all salute and kneel. "MY LORD!" The dream-disciples shout in unison while Dreamdemona gives you a questioning stare. You can't help but think that it's getting too cramped, and the crowd responds to your thoughts. "YES, MY LORD!" They shout in unison, getting on their hands and knees while placing their shields on their backs. In seconds their close quarters and wooden shields have formed a perfectly even floor at knee-height. Dreamdemona steps on one of the minions and rises up to the new floor. "You have strange dreams." "I dare to dream." You respond, stepping up yourself. *if ((heshe = "he") and (bodytype != "Manlet")) *set desromance + 1 She nods once. "Then dream of your success." *if (heshe = "he") #Her. *set desrep + 2 Her face smooths just a bit more. Her hair glistens just a bit brighter. Her lips grow just a bit fuller and threaten to nearly smile. Her gi forms a downward neckline. Dreamdemona looks down at her hands and body with disinterest. "Hm. You idolize me." "It's more of an attraction." You say in the safety of the dream. You can't tell if the light blush is from your dream perfecting her further or from her reaction. "A waste of focus. Concentrate on your training." Her hand glows the golden hue of Mystic Chi until the intense light around her fist lifts into the air like a floating lantern. "You will be creating fake suns, like this one. Light and force are the easiest applications of inner energy. With Mystic Chi, you can instruct your chi to focus entirely on light, not explode, and stay in place at a certain spot. It's incredibly easy as far as sorcery goes, but I find its flashy applications to be quite useful and universally applauded." "Got it, what are the instructions?" Her head tilts and she looks down at *if ((bodytype = "Petite") or (bodytype = "Manlet")) you with disapproval. *else you, despite being shorter. "I just told you. Focus on light, tell it not to explode, and tell it to rise than stay in place. We're not going to delve into ancient secrets or Sealing glyphs; you're not going to remember any steps from inside a dream. The point of this training is repetition." You form a ${auracolor} sphere of energy into your hand and try your best to focus on light, not heat. The energy blast glows brighter and you throw it into the sky, where it takes off like a firework and explodes. "Again." Says Dreamdemona. Another attempt ends with the same result. "Again." Says Dreamdemona, louder. Another attempt ends with the same result, albeit with a larger explosion. "Again!" Shouts Dreamdemona. In the nightmare that is your dream, sleep and food and water are unnecessary. Chi reserves, stamina, and breath are all infinite. Your patience is not. The energy blasts you launch into the sky finally stall before exploding, with the slightest tint of gold, only after ninety-eight hours have passed. Your only saving grace is that you won't remember any of this. [b][1 Fortitude Core Spent][/b] *set forspent + 1 *page_break "Next we'll be increasing your Mystic Chi output." Dreamdemona says, sitting on a chair and reading a tome while wearing glasses. You don't know where she got the chair, the tome, or the glasses. The thought of doing anything differently after such a mind-numbing repetitive exercise excites you. "What do I need to do?" "Charge your aura up to full power, then focus on exuding more Mystic Chi. Like when you flex all your muscles then specifically flex a single muscle harder." "Sounds easy enough." "It is. We are in a [i]dream[/i]. You are only performing basic tasks so they feel more second-nature to your waking self. Now show me your power." *if (aurapressure >= 800) With an Aura Pressure of over *if (aurapressure >= 2000) 2,000 *elseif (aurapressure >= 1000) 1,000 *elseif (aurapressure >= 900) 900 *else 800 *set solexp + 2 your spirit explodes with so much ${auracolor} energy that Dreamdemona's glasses are blasted off her face when her chair flies backward as if someone had thrown it. She lands face-first on the ground. "Potent." She says, unaffected by physics in this dream but still not getting up. "But *label nottherightchides not the Mystic Chi we are looking for. Keep at it." *else Your spirit flares with ${auracolor} energy that reflects off the dark clouds of your dreamscape, illuminating the place. Desdemona peaks up from her tome. "A significant output, but *goto nottherightchides You continue in silence for several hours before Dreamdemona finishes her tome, places it into a dark cloud, and withdraws another. "Try screaming, I hear screaming helps *if (heshe = "he") men *else people from your village with generating more power." Your blazing aura drops for a moment and you look over to her. "Do you think that would work? I just scream and get stronger?" She looks *if (pup) up, scratches the puppy by her side behind the ears, *else up and tilts her glasses down. "It's your dream, $!{name}, do [i]you[/i] think it would work?" Unfortunately, you do. [b][1 Power Core Spent][/b] *set powspent + 1 *page_break "It's time to wake you up." Dreamdemona says after *if (pup) playing with puppies for the who knows how long. *else finishing her eighteenth book. "Finally." You groan hoarsely from the ground, dismissing your aura. Mental and faux-spiritual exhaustion had long since caused you to lose count of the days stuck screaming in your dream. You can't even imagine having a healthy voice after so much mock rage, and so your dream-self suffers the consequences. Dreamdemona puts her books away and approaches. "Hold still, there's one surefire method to wake someone from a dream." *if ((heshe = "he") and (desromance >= 2)) *set metdesdemona + 100000000 With a flick of her fingers a makeup brush appears in the air, twisting and turning like an enchanted sword ready to defend its owner. Dreamdemona steps over you and kneels down, placing both hands on your cheeks. Her makeup brush rushes to her and re-applies the purple paint upon her lips, then she lowers her head to yours. "What are you-" Her soft, pillowy lips press hard against your own and the dark fog of the dreamworld freezes before shattering like a glass window. *else Both of her hands glow with an intense golden light and you stare up at her in wonder. Not in astonishment, but actual wonder. You're wondering what she's up to. She is standing [i]far[/i] too close to be channeling that much energy. And it doesn't feel like the fake sun training, it feels more scorching. Almost like an atta- With one quick motions she slams her arms towards the ground and her Double Arm Cannon explodes your exhausted, depleted dreambody into chunks. *page_break When you awake the faces of Desdemona's original two disciples from your first mission stare at you, seated around your prone body on the inside of a moving wagon. Curtains have been drawn over the windows to ensure hardly any light enters. Your eyes adjust to the darkness and- Ah! Damn it, the light! The second your eyes adjusted to the darkness the back of the wagon opens, still in transit and travelling down a shadeless road that must be between valleys or farms, because there's not a tree in sight. Desdemona leaps into the wagon beside you. "Li Moon, Li Sun, how is our guest?" "$!{hisher} body is stable." Says the man, Li Sun. "Though we were not expecting ${himher} to be out for so long, Lady Desdemona. We cannot be sure that ${hisher} mind is intact." "I can hear you." You say. Li Moon, the girl in glasses, leaps in surprise high enough to hit her head on the wagon's ceiling. She yelps and holds her head where a bump is no-doubt forming judging by the crack she caused in the wood. However she recovers fast and immediately drops her face far too close to yours. "You were in a dreamscape for over two days in the real world! It must have been weeks in there! Do you remember anything?" "Just some fake sun Techniques and a lot of screaming." *if (deskiss) Your eyes flicker to Desdemona's lips coated in the same makeup as Dreamdemona's. You can't help but wonder if they feel the same. Desdemona frowns. "You're not supposed to remember anything, you were in there too long." "Well I'm fine and ready for the next lesson." "I doubt that. Highly." Desdemona says. "No one is ready for the next lesson." You stand to show good health and release a fraction of your aura, giving off specks of golden Mystic Chi. "Give it to me anyway." Li Moon and Li Sun look to Desdemona for confirmation. Her smoldering gaze burns into you, analyzing your determination more than your spirit. Finally she submits. "Don't say I didn't warn you. Li Sun, Li Moon, educate ${himher} on the third step to mastering the Kiihakai Style." With a quick motion Li Moon and Li Sun jump to their feet. Your power expands as you prepare for their attack. Then they withdraw fuuinjutsu tags. They rip their tags open in unison, forming a smoke cloud that solidifies into piles of books in front of you. Li Sun pulls the curtain open to your right while Li Moon pulls the curtains open to your left. They both bow apologetically and Li Moon speaks up. "The third step is academic. Best of luck!" All three leap from the wagon and close the wagon door. The quick 'click' of metal lets you know you've been locked in with the books. A closer inspection shows the large collection to be a mix of practical Sealing guides, academic philosophy on the soul, and spiritual teachings on the essence and behavior of natural chi. Almost all of it is written so dryly that it could have only been made by scholars who tried to sound smart instead of trying to teach well. It's a long forty-hour trip before you finish reading. *if (lore = 0) [b][Lore +1][/b] *set lore + 1 *set val ((lore * 3) + (handseals * 2)) *set apval val *gosub_scene quicks apboost *set val 0 *line_break *set solspent + 1 [b][1 Soul Core Spent][/b] *page_break The Dreamriver Sect's wagons stop on one of many hills around another small town. You've been passing many towns lately but you can't be sure why. Food needs farmlands and in such close proximity land is a scarcity, so many settlements can't be so close together without resource wars. Or so you, a mountain bumpkin, believed. Then when you leap from your wagon to stretch your legs you saw the source of their food. The ocean. It's as beautiful as it is intimidating. Growing up in the mountains around Thunderfall Village meant you've never actually seen the ocean, only the large lakes of snowmelt that freeze early in the autumn due to your town's high elevation. To be down here, in the warm glow of the sun, where you see the vast and imposing view of the ocean continuing on farther than any sight of your life... It's majestic. "It's majestic, isn't it?" Desdemona agrees. You almost expected Dreamdemona with how closely your thoughts aligned. "I've never seen it before, the swamps don't hold a candle to so much water. I never imagined what the world would look like without hills or darkness from the trees at every corner. So much water seems to go on forever..." She turns to you, steel determination in her eyes. "That brings me to our last training. You've cultivated a sliver of Mystic Chi on command and studied what you need to know to put it to use. But you have yet to truly put it to use." *if (ruthless > 50) You like where this is going. *else You don't like where this is going. Desdemona removes her robes to reveal a Dreamriver combat gi like those worn by her Disciples. The air grows heavy around her body as it glows with a golden light. "Now you're going to fight me, using only the Kiihakai Style." "That's a heavy crutch." You reply. "I've barely cultivated any Mystic Chi and your aura is made of it." She smiles. "That's the point. Exposure breeds results." *if ((desromance >= 3) and (heshe = "he")) Ancestors, you'd like to breed her with results. Glowing lines of chi wrap around the tops of her hands and swirl into mystic sigils. Handseals form in real-time without shattering from the spiritual pressure of combat auras. You'd almost be impressed if you weren't busy being worried, jumping to the side just as she releases a golden lance of light at your torso that shoots off into a neighboring hill with an incredibly loud sizzle. You respond from the ground, focusing your Mystic Chi into your own lines of power. The Tiger sigil forms just over your hand, on your palm, which is the wrong side of your hand. Your chi blast blows through it on the way out and Desdemona slaps the attack away. Converting chi into Mystic Chi mid-fight has a terrible ten-to-one ratio; with such a low and slow output you're performing worse than when you first generated an aura. The best thing you can do is dodge as Desdemona launches two small homing blasts at you from different angles. Even your speed has to be infused with Mystic Chi instead of normal chi if you want to train right, so every step is a slower agony. It's a long three-hour fight before you're left panting on the ground, completely depleted. [b][1 Agility Core Spent][/b] *set agispent + 1 *page_break Desdemona wipes sweat from her face. Makeup smears onto her wrist as she approaches your panting, exhausted body laying face-down on the grass. Li Moon brings her a tonic that she guzzles before getting to your prone form. Her other Disciples stopped watching the fight long ago, returning to their chores and preparing more charms for sale at the Trials. It was insulting to see them casually go about their day while you *if (jadedragonfoundation) struggled for one of the first times in your life, *else had your ass kicked from hill to hill, but every second you forcefully reminded yourself to only use Mystic Chi, not your true power. The importance was not victory. The importance was results. Desdemona grabs you by the shoulder and rolls you over, checking your pulse. "I'm fine." You say between heavy breaths. Chi swirls in her eyes as she scans your spirit closely. "You're not, but you're exactly what we need. There's one last step to unlock your Kiihakai Style Advancement. It's going to hurt." "I can take it." You say from the ground, unsure if you can take it but refusing to give up in front of a crowd. "I hope you can, because you have to do it now. You've already started generating Mystic Chi but to [i]only[/i] generate Mystic Chi you'd have to keep training for a year. We don't have that kind of time. Only a week, tops. The shortcut ritual is to empty your aura of every ounce of chi you have and envelope it in a pool of Mystic Chi, like my aura." You are positive that will not work. "No one can give their aura to someone else." "I'm not giving you my power, I'm convincing the bottom of your spirit's inner well that chi should look like Mystic Chi. It doesn't do anything but help you generate purely Mystic Chi and it only works if you're already cultivating it yourself." She looks off into the distance for a moment. "Also, it's dangerous. You'll have a terrible fever for days and I'll be unable to gain my full aura back until you've expelled all my chi." *if (honor < 48) "Sounds..." You catch your breath quickly. "Fun." Desdemona shakes her head condescendingly. "It won't be. *else "Do it." You say without hesitation. *set desrep + 2 Desdemona nods. "As you wish. My Disciples will get us a boat to Nanhou to ensure we get there safely while we're incapacitated. Now sit up, if you can." You and Desdemona sit across from each other while she glows with golden light and performs an unfamiliar handseal formation in rapid succession. You close your eyes and press every ounce of chi into your aura, flaring the last specks of ${auracolor} energy out of your body. There's not much left to spend. Suddenly a presence rips open in your spiritual senses, a humming presence probing your soul while shining in your senses like the purest form of energy. Mystic Chi. Desdemona's aura. It rushes into and over you like a beacon of overwhelming lifeforce, drowning your soul in the ocean of its consciousness. You try to fight it back but feel a spark from deep within your own Cores: a shining well humming back. Your own inner Sprit. Your own living energy. The sensation of being drowned in the foreign energy's depth is overcome as the Mystic Chi all around you dwindles over the next ten minutes of struggle, replaced by a reactive and shining light at the center of your own spirit that grows in potential, though not in size. Yet. When at last Desdemona's foreign chi is gone you feel that your own aura has taken on a new meaning, a new form. Your chi reserves remain empty and your aura remains weak but it feels healthy. When your power returns it should be a full Kiihakai aura of Mystic Chi. Yet something more calls to you. Two of the Kiihakai effects that you haphazardly called upon during training solidify in your soul like new instincts, specifically from *set val 0 *set desrep + 5 *label kiinewtechs *if (val = 0) the... *else The second new power resonating through your soul comes from the... *choice *disable_reuse #Fake Sun training. [Insight Increase + Fortitude Surge Bonus] *gosub_scene quicks learntech 2120670000000000 "Halo Spheres" "Passively increases Insight by +1. Increases Fortitude Surge by +1 when focused." [b][Learning this Technique passively increases your Insight by +1.][/b] *line_break [b][While equipped to the Fortitude Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Fortitude Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Fortitude checks.][/b] *disable_reuse #Screaming. [Aura Pressure Increase + Power Surge Bonus] *gosub_scene quicks learntech 1110000020000000 "Spiritwell" "Passively increases AP by +10. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused." [b][Learning this Technique increases Aura Pressure by +10][/b] *line_break [b][While focused to the Power Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Power Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Power checks.][/b] *disable_reuse #Studying. [Handseals Increase + Chi Pool Increase] *gosub_scene quicks learntech 5000570001000000 "Incantations" "Passively increases Handseals by +1. Passively increases Chi Pool by +1." [b][Learning this Technique passively increases your Handseals by +1.][/b] *line_break [b][Learning this Technique increases your Chi Pool by +1.][/b] *disable_reuse #Combat practice. [Ritual Component Discount + Soul Surge Increase] *gosub_scene quicks learntech 3140000000300000 "Sigilbrand" "Passively reduces the cost of Seals by 2 Components. Increases Soul Surge by +1 when focused." [b][Learning this Technique reduces the cost of Seals by 2 Ritual Components.][/b] *line_break [b][While focused to the Agility Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Soul Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Soul checks.][/b] *if (val = 0) *set val + 1 *goto kiinewtechs The process feels invigorating at first but that surge of energy falls flat almost immediately, replaced with a heavy fatigue as your body heats up. You lean over to catch your breath but your arm braced against the ground completely gives up, collapsing you onto the hilltop's lush grass. Desdemona lies facedown on the grass already, her hair wrapped in every direction as if to show she landed completely face-first on the dirt. Her Disciples stand around her in concern but their worries dwindle seconds later when her back rises and falls with steady breathing. The Disciples shout out in alarm seconds later when a bright energy blast strikes one of them. Your body weighs too much to move and all you see is more energy blasts and arrows raining down upon them from behind you. Try as you may, you can't bring yourself to move your head when her Disciples leap over your form and engage some enemy. The sound of heavy impacts and explosive chi lasts mere moments before it all falls to silence. Moments later all you hear is the crunching of grass. A silver colored pantleg steps over you and snickers, lightly kicking your head with the other foot as the man passes by. A dozen more men and women follow and collect the defeated disciples, binding them with steel manacles. Each of the newcomers is dressed in silver and yellow combat gi. The uniform of the Sunbringers. "A good haul." Says one of the Sunbringer women. "Indeed, not just useful sacrifices *goto taioreveal *elseif (style = "Kurokonton") You decide to spend the night at the town's inn and find accommodations without trouble. A dozen or so patrons sit around the inn main hall eating from the main course of fish and turnip soup which turns out to be surprisingly spicy. Many of the patrons beg for milk but are given only water, which makes the spice burn hotter on the tongue. Half the customers can't even finish dinner, the other half hold back tears out of pride. After that bit of entertainment you head up to your designated room and see a curious shining line in your open doorway, a reflection coming from the lantern light of the hallway. The curious thing is there's nothing there to reflect the light, until you look closer and reach out with your fingers. *if (insight >= 1) *set solexp + 1 Razorwire, and if your senses are right it's charged with cursed Yin chi to pull you in closer once it touches your skin. *else Razorwire. A razorwire trap hidden at neck height. Specifically, your neck's height. Someone is trying to kill you. *if (goldside) *page_break "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Comes a shout from down the hall. A man walks out from the shadows of a large plant, waving his arms horizontally and shaking his head in disapproval. "Fellas, job's over! Cancel everything, nobody mentioned our target being a friend!" You never thought you'd recognize your would-be assassin. "...Guiren?" "In the flesh." The lizard Yokai smiles and snaps his fingers twice. "Sorry about the, uh, razorwire. Don't step backwards, we made that one obvious so you'd walk on the pressure plate behind you. In fact, give me a minute and don't move." He snaps his fingers twice. "Come on out boys, assassination canceled." Two of the eight doors on your hallway open and four more men in all-black clothing emerge with facewraps. "Yeah yeah, you're very mysterious." Guiren says to the men, "Now get to work and un-trap our guest's room." The shinobi-dressed underlings begin to pull up floorboards and remove spike traps or gas balloons. A couple sneak into the room to remove an assortment of snakes and hexed paper tags. "Guiren, what exactly is going on?" Guiren scratches the back of his neck nervously, *if (guirenromance >= 1) looking into the corner of the hallway and refusing to meet your gaze. *else trying to laugh it off. "Heh, so...You know how me and the boys are debt collectors for the Boss? Well, we moonlight for various crimes too. Anything to fund the cultivation, I don't have to tell you how expensive [i]that[/i] is." *if (guirenromance >= 1) "Uh huh." *else "Stay on topic." "Well me and the boys needed some extra money when a great opportunity came up, something no one else was willing to do, so we took the job while we could. It offered six spirit fruit, payable in Nanhou, and all we have to do is kill one ${manwoman}." "Who made you the offer?" "Never saw him, went through a peasant mediator, but we were offered soulbinding oaths for the contract so it was someone willing to drop real resources into it." A sense of danger creeps into your thoughts. "If you signed a soulbinding oath, then...You can't call off the attack." Combat chi materializes around your body on reflex. Guiren's forced you both into this fight whether he wants to or not. "Hey, hey!" Guiren shouts back, "None of that! We're good, calm down. Hells." He draws the soulbinding oath from his pocket and unravels it to show its authenticity, then rips it in half. "The Boss protects us from these things so they have to go through him to affect us. I could honestly wipe my ass with it. One of the perks of the job." He looks off to the side and frowns. "Speaking of the job...I mean it, I didn't know it was you when I set this all up." He shrugs apologetically. "Classic mistake. My bad." *choice #[Shrug back] "I would have done the same." *set ruthless - 2 *set guirenrep + 4 It's hard to hold things against Guiren, the Heavenly Ascension Trials are coming up and any spirit fruits or Advancement Elixirs were guzzled long ago by the hundreds or even thousands preparing. If someone offered you a spirit fruit to assassinate their rival you'd probably assume they deserved it. Why else would someone be willing to offer a spirit fruit just before the Trials? "Honestly Guiren, I can't blame you. I would have done the same." The tension visibly leaves his shoulders. He stares to the ceiling and coves a hand over both eyes. "Oh thank Heavens. This was going to be such a mess if we still had to fight. Imagine if I called the guys back in after telling them to leave? Some leader that would be." "You're welcome." You reply, seizing on the guilt. "Too kind of you. So look," Guiren says, suddenly serious, *if (heshe = "she") #"So how are you going to make it up to me?" *set guirenrep + 2 "So how are you going to make it up to me?" "Oh I can think of some ways." Guiren smirks. "How about you and I do some personal training together?" You can guess where this is *if (guirenromance = 0) going and you don't like it. *else going. "What kind of training?" "Throwing star training." Oh. You guessed wrong. "Is that code for something or-" He reaches into a beltpouch and withdraws four shuriken. "Okay, it's literal." "And that's not all." Guiren says. *else #"Honor dictates recompense." *set honor + 2 *set guirenrep - 2 "Honor dictates recompense, Guiren." Guiren's expression switches from apologetic to annoyed in an instant. "We're not parting with our money, if that's what you mean. Everything we have is property of the Boss, or hard-earned working for him." "You tried to kill me, do you think that's forgivable on words alone? Either you make up for it or we fight." Guiren's men freeze in the hallway, looking over to the two of you. "Then we fight." Guiren says. *page_break "Together!" He finishes, just as your ${auracolor} aura has finished charging around your body. "What are you saying?" You ask, annoyed, from a solid battle-stance. You were about to jump at a wall, launch off with your feet, do a flip to land a diving kick onto a minion's head, and then blast chi behind you to stop Guiren's counter attack or even burn him if he fails to dodge. Now...You kind of want to do that. The plan's all ready. Seems like a waste not to do it. Guiren holds his hands up for peace. *selectable_if (lore >= 1) #"Guiren you idiot, killing a Trial aspirant is punishable by death!" [b][Lore 1 Check Passed][/b] *set solexp + 2 "Guiren you idiot, killing a Trial aspirant is punishable by death from the Inner Kingdoms! Thank the Heavens I didn't walk into that wire or we'd [b]both[/b] be headless." *set guirenrep + 3 Guiren's face goes pale and he looks to his Oni friend. "Is that true, Yoji?" Yoji nods. "Yeah, we knew this already. You checked the contract first to make sure it wasn't entrapping us into a death sentence, right?" Guiren's face grows paler. Great, you almost got killed by an ally who almost got himself killed too. "Forget this," you say, "If we're done pretending to kill each other then I'm getting back on the road." "Hold on, hold on." Guiren pleads, walking between you and the doorway. "There's good reason I canceled the hit on you despite the good pay. Me and the boys have gained a reputation on the road and people are catching onto us. They see one of my men, they know the rest are coming. In short, I need a new member for the jobs in Nanhou. Someone who knows what they're doing, someone with skills, someone with Cursed Chi. Someone like you." *if ((heshe = "she") and (guirenromance >= 1)) "Flatterer." *else "Good eye." Guiren holds up a hand. "BUT, we can't take you just on good faith. You're stronger than my men, sure, but you're missing something vital if you're going to act on the caliber that we need for the job we're planning. Why hasn't your Sect taught you to use the Kurokonton Style?" You almost laugh. "They were too busy sending me on a suicide mission, trying to arrest my childhood friend, leaving me at home when they leave to the Trials, abducting my siblings without an ounce of formal training, honestly they're a very busy Sect. As soon as I get to Nanhou I'm *if (ruthless >= 54) cracking skulls and taking my family back." "From your Sect Master? The terrifying giant Crusher Mao?" Guiren whistles. "Damn ${boygirl}, even I've heard of his rampages. You've got balls. I like balls." *if (heshe = "she") You give the man a questioning gaze. He freezes, realizing what he said. "Oh, uh, not like that. I'm into women-" "Sure you are." "Shut up. *elseif (honor > 46) "I'll bet." *set guirenrep + 1 "Shut up. *else You give him a questioning look. "You do?" "What?" "You like balls?" "Wha-NO! Not like that, damn it. What I was going to say before you made it weird was, how would you like to learn ninjutsu of the Kurokonton Style? Mao wouldn't be expecting it, and we need someone else in our gang who can actually [i]use[/i] Cursed Chi. You've got the potential, you just need the training." "Is this a serious question? You're asking if I want to learn ancient shinobi secret Techniques and mystical curses before the Heavenly Ascension Trials, or if I don't? Who would say no?" Guiren shrugs with a modest grin. "I like to give options." "Shut up with your options and get to the training." *goto guirentraining *else *choice #Disable the trap. *if (thievery >= 1) *set agiexp + 2 [b][Thievery 1 Check Passed][/b] The wire comes apart easily enough with a slice from *if (background = "Blacksmith") your tanto. *elseif (background = "Trapper") a skinning knife. *else a dinner knife from downstairs. *if (insight >= 1) Just as you thought, the *else The moment your knife touched against the trap *if (insight >= 1) the yin chi surrounding the wire *else some sort of chi infusion you hadn't sensed rips your blade straight through the wire in a single cut. If you had walked into the wire instead of using a blade then your neck would have been pulled straight through in a single cut. *if (thievery >= 2) *set agiexp + 2 [b][Thievery 2 Check Passed][/b] Additionally, your nimble fingers are able to deftly salvage the razorwire and its mountings too. These will sell nicely. [b][Item Gained: 170 Silver][/b] *set silver + 170 A soft clap comes from the doorway behind you. "Well done, that was supposed to kill you. We spent a lot of money on it." *goto guirensurprised *else [b][Thievery 1 Check Failed][/b] A single slice from *if (background = "Blacksmith") your tanto *elseif (background = "Trapper") your skinning knife *else a dinner knife from downstairs will do the trick here. You set the blade's edge against the wire and push in a sawing motion, causing the razorwire to snap and recoil in wild whipping motions. Your arm catches one of those whips and suffers deep lacerations before the wire falls flaccid. [b][1 Wounds Suffered][/b] *set wounds + 1 *gosub guirendeathcheck Blood leaks around your arm. The damned thing stings like you wouldn't believe, but that pain is nothing compared to a real combat injury. That's what you tell yourself when you get ready to fight, because there's a slow clap coming from down the hallway. "Well done," says the voice, "that was supposed to kill you. Cost us a fortune to get the cursed energy to stick for so long." *label guirensurprised "I'm not so easily killed." *label guirensurprised2 You face the figure and see *if not (purpleside) a lizard Yokai with green reptilian eyes remove a black face covering while stepping out from the shadows. *if (portraitpics) *image https://www.auraclash.com/assets/img/guiren.jpg *else Guiren remove a black face covering while stepping out from the shadows. "We'll see about that." He says while drawing two daggers. Two more figures emerge from the shadows. "Someone's paid good money for your death, *if ({metguiren#3} = 1) and frankly I'd do it for free you piece of shit. We're going to make you pay for what you did to Kennui. *elseif (purpleside) and me and the boys remember how you treated us last week. We'd do it for free. *else and me and the boys? We like good money. Get ${himher}, boys." *page_break "Wait Guiren!" Shouts one of the black and gold clad minions flanking you. An oni, you notice when he takes off his face coverings. "How old is ${heshe}?" The lizard Yokai looks to the Oni with disgust. "Yoji, who gives a shit? Follow my orders and kill the target." "Don't be stupid! If ${heshe}'s young enough to be in the Trials we'll be executed for killing ${himher} by the Inner Kingdoms." You look at the two bickering and wonder where this is going. The lizardman pulls out a scroll and rolls his eyes. "Sorry about this, stranger." He says to you. "We're normally more professional than this. Hold on a second." It's far more than a second. You all stand eerily still in the hallway waiting to see if you're about to start killing people when finally *if not (purpleside) the enemy's leader, this 'Guiren' *else Guiren stops reading the scroll and speaks up. "Aw shit, this isn't good. Not good at all." He looks up at you. "How old [i]are[/i] you?" This is the chattiest assassination you've ever seen. "I'm ${age}, why does it matter?" "By the Ancestors that was almost a bloodbath." He looks to his men in clear frustration. "No one wanted to bring this up until now? How have we made it this long without knowing or breaking this clause?" "What are you talking about, what's going on?" You finally ask. Guiren throws the scroll at you. "Imperial Law for the Heavenly Asension Trials. Read it and weep. Killing a Trial aspirant in anything but self-defense is punishable with execution by the Inner Kingdoms. As weird as this sounds, we can't fight each other. They'd kill me and my men for killing you, and kill you for killing me or half my men." You read through the clause in the rules you hadn't heard of until now. Sure enough, you'll be executed for killing a single Aspirant. *if ({metguiren#3} = 1) Your face turns pale. You already killed one of Guiren's men. "Relax asshole." Guiren says, noting your grim expression. "My friend that you murdered was twenty-eight. He wasn't in the Trials. He did have kids back home though, just so you feel like the piece of shit that you are." You don't entertain his goading. "So what do we do now? Part ways like nothing happened?" "[i]I'm[/i] parting ways, that much is certain." Says one of the black-clad minions. "This whole job is a joke. Guiren you suck, I'm getting dinner." The man walks down to the supper hall where a dark fate of spicy fish soup awaits him. Everyone involved watches the minion leave in silence, even you. It's almost stunning to see a mook with attitude. "Are all your men like this?" "I sure am," says Yoji, the Oni, "fuck you Guiren you almost got me killed over an anonymous assassination request. This was obviously a setup." He shouts for the other minion to wait for him and follows. *if ({metguiren#3} = 1) Guiren glares daggers into the backs of his men. "Abandoning post. Cowards." He turns back to you. "So my friend's killer leaves unscathed after my own men abandon me." "That's-" "-the best possible result." Guiren interrupts you, and you're not sure where he's going with that. Your mouth pauses, half-open while he continues. "Everyone thinks I'll want you dead, and I do, but that's why we'll make a good team for one job. A job where I can ensure your loyalty." "Good luck with that." "Oh it will be easy." Guiren flaunts. *goto guirenspitch *else Guiren sighs. "Good help is so hard to find." He runs a hand over his face in exasperation before regaining his composure. "Say, we're not allowed to fight each other. This is abrupt, what with the whole assassination attempt and all, but...want a job?" Of all the stupid things you've heard this year, that offer is in the top three. "Why in the world would I work with you?" "Because whoever put us up to this job tried to get me and all my asshole underlings killed. I need to track them down and make sure no one has the balls to do that again. You know, send a message. They're clearly afraid of you, so I'd want you on my team for it. And besides, I can sense you have untrained Cursed Chi." *if (heshe = "she") He steps closer, placing a hand on the doorway near your head. *else He grins wide. "I don't know why your Master never taught you to wield your natural yin affinity better, but that's his problem not yours. Stick with me and the guys and we'll help you unlock the Kurokonton Style before the Trials. How's that sound to make it worth your while?" "In a week? You're joking." *label thatwouldbeajoke Guiren nods confidently. "That would be a joke, because there's no way it will take us a whole week." *goto guirentraining #Search for more traps. Whoever set this trap must have set more. With so many Martial Artists on the road it's never safe to assume your target would die from a single trap... *if (perception >= 2) [b][Perception 2 Check Passed][/b] *set forexp + 1 *set agiexp + 1 Sure enough you find a plethora of traps covering your room, as well as a couple loose floorboards that no doubt trigger other contraptions. Ripping one floorboard out reveals a trap made of two rubber balls in a container; should you step on the floorboard the loose board would drop and push a nail through both balloons which likely delivers some sort of explosion or knockout gas. Some materials you might keep, but the rest could sell well. [b][Item Gained: 170 Silver][/b] *set silver + 170 *label guirensoftclapnl A soft clap comes from the doorway behind you. "Well done, that was supposed to knock you out. We spent a lot of money on it." "I'm not so easily beaten." *goto guirensurprised2 *else [b][Perception 2 Check Failed][/b] Sure enough you find another trap inside the room when you step on a floorboard and it gives way, dropping three inches and triggering something underneath. A cloud of alchemical smoke bursts from the pressure plate and provokes a coughing fit when you inhale the disgusting sulfuric contents. *if (element1 = "Wind") [b][Element Event: Wind][/b] *line_break *set apval 5 *gosub_scene quicks apboost A single flex of your spirit forms a layer of air around your skin that expands outwards and wraps around the smoke cloud, pushing the alchemical gas out the nearby window and drifting it harmlessly upward. *else *set combatstat "fortitude" *set combatskill "alchemy" *set combatdiff 6 *gosub_scene quicks combatcheck *if (passcheck) Your lungs prove too powerful for whatever reaction the cloud is meant to have. *goto guirensoftclapnl *else The fumes prove too much. The last thing you see before losing consciousness is a lizard Yokai entering your room with dagger drawn. *goto guirenwakeup #Spiritually scan for the attacker. The assassin has to be somewhere nearby. You peer around the room and know an expert killer must be accustomed to hiding in plain sight, but can they hide their spirit as well? The weight of your Aura Pressure spreads across the entire inn to feel out a hidden power among its inhabitants. No matter how hard you press however there's still the sensation that something lies outside of your grasp. A couple voices from the dining hall complain at your scan but this is life and death, they can wait. You press even harder and feel the sensation in your mind of a wet, wavy curtain of glass. Every time your spirit's senses brush upon...something...it slides right off. It's difficult to even pinpoint [i]where[/i] the interaction happens each time, just some place in your hallway. *if ((insight >= 3) or ((stealth >= 2) and (insight >= 2))) *if (insight >= 3) [b][Insight 3 Check Passed][/b] *set solexp + 1 *else [b][Stealth 2 + Insight 2 Check Passed][/b] *set agiexp + 1 Yet you do not yield. The full might of your Aura Pressure is forced down on the [i]entire hallway[/i], flaring your aura to its full force and linking your spiritual senses to its weight. *label exposedguiren Finally the sensation shatters and you feel a Technique die in the air. In that very instant three auras become blatantly noticeable in the shadows. *label exposedguiren2 *set apval 5 *gosub_scene quicks apboost "You can come out." You say, staring directly at where you sense the trio. "Well done, well done!" Declares one of them, clapping slowly. "We had expected to kill you before you even saw us, I must say this is a disappointment. I prefer my jobs to be easy." *set guirenrep + 4 *goto guirensurprised *elseif (element1 = "Light") Yet you do not yield. The radiant force of your shining Aura Pressure rushes the hallway around you with a flare of yang-sourced Light chi and you feel it clash against something else, a source of yin chi hiding your targets. A battlecry escapes your lips as you push your aura harder, so hard that the bright light of your power flashes throughout the hallway in a blinding display. *goto exposedguiren *elseif (element1 = "Darkness") Yet you do not yield. The sensation in the air radiates with yin chi, a familiar sense. The yin aligned forces of Darkness flowing through your dark aura seek out the power of yin permeating through the air and you grasp upon it with a grin. Rather than crush the assassin's veil that must be hiding their aura, you seize upon it like a real curtain and slide yourself inside of it as well. You do not destroy their Technique, instead you simply join it. Apparently those of you on the inside of such a veil can see each other, since you're now able to notice three figures hiding in the shadows. *goto exposedguiren2 *else [b][Insight 3 Check Failed][/b] The distraction proves too much and it becomes quickly obvious that yours was the wrong choice. Whoever seeks your death must be a master of hiding their aura even moreso than hiding their physical presence, there's not a shred of chi in your senses at all. This entire hallway's chi signature is suppressed, even your own. And even the infused shuriken flying into your back from behind. [b][1 Wounds Suffered][/b] *set wounds + 1 *gosub guirendeathcheck Howls of anger escapes your lips and you turn around, flaring your ${auracolor} aura and preparing to fight. A figure emerges from the shadows, slowclapping. "Well done, I had a bet that the first volley would kill you outright." *goto guirensurprised *label guirentraining *page_break "How much do you know about the Kurokonton Style?" Guiren asks while sitting on a tree stump outside the market square. "I know it's what ninjas use to kill people and everyone thinks it's cursed." "Kind of, that covers the superstition but it doesn't explain how it works at all. The Kurokonton martial art is about pure yin chi, what others call Cursed Chi. It's stubborn stuff and we have to make it into a weapon. Basically, Yin is the force of absorption and entropy. Taking and ending. We'll use this kunai for example." Guiren reaches into a pouch strapped to his leg and withdraws a double-edged throwing-knife with a thin handle and no hilt. "I throw this at people and hope it hurts them, simple, right?" He waits. Is he actually expecting an answer? The waiting continues. By the Ancestors he actually is expecting an answer. "...Right." Guiren's hand flickers for just a moment and the kunai is gone. A loud 'thud' from forty feet away shows the kunai stabbed into a different tree stump further towards the town gate. To the left of his kunai is a red circle of paint, a target. "I missed." Guiren says. "But what if I didn't have to? Open up your spiritual perceptions, I'll try to make this less subtle than normal." Chi surges to your eyes and you see the world in brighter colors. A dark mist rises from Guiren with hints of purple. It expands and solidifies harder and harder until his purple aura thickens and dances at the edges as if surrounded in a black fire. He flicks one finger out, sending a sliver of his chi at the distant tree stump. It hits the red paint target and forms a needle-thin line between the target and Guiren's fingertip. He maneuvers his hand as if pulling some sort of fishing wire and you see the chi line on the tree stump drag to the center of the target. "And now..." Guiren draws three kunai and throws them all in quick succession. With your spiritual senses still open you see all three follow the chi-line he had formed between himself and the target. All three are guided into the bullseye by some pulling force. Guiren nods in satisfaction. "I leash my chi to my target and use the process of yin's absorption to 'pull' my weapon from me into my target. Turning a pull into a push by changing the source. The kicker is that now there's combat chi involved in my attack so it penetrates Martial Artists better. The same goes for backstabbing someone. Shinobi don't just stab someone from behind and it's magically better than other backstabbers, we [i]pull[/i] the targets into our weapons with yin absorption and an entropy death curse. A lot of tricks work the same way. Walking on walls? Absorption to pull my feet to the wall. Catching arrows? Absorption chi spread like a web across my fingers to pull the arrow in all directions, stopping it in my open hand so I can grab it." That's impressive, and a ninjutsu secret you've never heard of. "What about entropy?" "Oh that part is much easier. Yin's entropy cancels out energy, like nullifying the speed behind someone's projectile when it hits you or nullifying the sound of your movements for stealth. The hardest are direct effects like nullifying your opponent's movements or the strength of their lifeforce. Their auras contest our yin chi's will, so we use poisons. People think ninjas use ancient secret poisons but it's all a con. The only reason a ninja's poisons work better is because we're secretly using a yin entropy Technique on our opponents at the same time that we poison them. Two effects with the same result. Splits their resistance up." Huh, so you don't need some secret ancient shinobi poison garden, just basic poisons and a good Kurokonton Technique. "And the curses? The special eyes?" Guiren grins. "The entropy part of yin covers a few of the curses, but we'll get to the rest after you learn the *if (insight >= 2) basics." [b][Insight 2 Check Passed][/b] *set solexp + 3 "So you don't know any curses, and you don't have the special eyes." Guiren's face reddens as you call his bluff. "If you're going to be *if (heshe = "he") a dick *else rude on purpse then I'm going to enjoy this training a lot more." *else basics." He gets up and tosses you a set of black clothing and facewrap, as well as a few pouches of weapons. "Let's go. It's time we put your new lessons into practice." *page_break Ninjutsu training under Guiren turns out more physically taxing than expected. While you had envisioned stealth exercises through the large town, instead you're lead one day's march to a distant bamboo forest where you're forced to run across the sharpened tops of bamboo stalks until your feet stop bleeding from the unnerving blades of the stalks. "How do you expect to conceal your movements if they're so heavy?!" Guiren shouts while whacking one of the stalks as you sprint over it, "You should never touch the stalk for more time than it takes to blink! Speed doesn't come from wasting time on the ground!" Easy for him to say as you're the one gritting your teeth and sprinting across a 200 foot stretch of bamboo blades. "Again! Lighter!" He shouts after your hundredth dash. "Again! Lighter!" He shouts after your two-hundredth dash. "You can't expect to do this with just your body damn it, [i]pull[/i] yourself to the end!" "Again! Lighter damn it!" He shouts after your three-hundredth dash. The bamboo forest, once a serene view, becomes a blood and sweat soaked Hell made manifest. And either you've stopped cutting your feet or you've run out of blood. *set agispent + 1 [b][1 Agility Core Spent][/b] *page_break The next day at a quarry proves no better. What you thought was strength training turns out to be far worse. Your suspicions begin when Guiren has you carry dozens of rocks up to the ledge of a small ten-foot cliff. The suspicious part is he helps you do it. "We're going to need a lot of these." He explains through grunts, carrying an impressive pile of large rocks. "A serious quantity, put them all near the ledge." Two hours later you finish and find out why. "Okay," Guiren says finally, collapsing at the top of the ledge surrounded by a small hill of granite stones. "Now lay down at the bottom and I'll drop these on you. Your goal is to throw rocks up at them to deflect mine away." "Won't the debris drop on me?" Guiren laughs. "That's the point. Your aura is larger than your body, and your instincts know this. By the time your bruises start mounting up the Cursed Chi in your aura should start kicking in and the edges of your spirit will gradually pull the debris to the side so it stops landing on your flesh." He rubs his right cheekbone as if remembering his own training. "Spirits are hard to coax, especially our own, but survival instincts do wonders. If you ever master this you'll be harder to hit for life." *if ((heshe = "she") and (guirenromance >= 1)) This sounds ridiculous to you. "So that's it? You're just going to drop rocks on me?" "To rush this in under a week? You bet I am." Guiren says, stretching his shoulder. "Try to protect your face, I like your smile." *else "So you're just going to drop rocks on me and we hope my spirit starts defending me? That's insane." "We have a week, insanity is mandatory." The next hour is spent exactly as you'd expect, throwing rocks and energy blasts at Guiren's falling boulders in quick succession and rolling or covering your face to to avoid the falling debris from landing on tender bruises or open eyes. *if (heshe = "he") And your groin, Ancestors, why do so many land on your groin?! When you finally finish, bruised and beaten, Guiren jumps from his ledge and groans. You don't even have a groan left to give. "This is the part I hate." He says to himself. "Now I've got to bring all the rocks up alone." Oh Ancestors no... He drags all the rocks up to reload his ammunition and you go through the same training twice more before the sun sets. *set forspent + 1 [b][1 Fortitude Core Spent][/b] *page_break Guiren's men catch up with you the next day after you and he both finish herbal healing soups along an overly loud river. Supposedly his men were off on some debt collection mission while you and Guiren continously trained and *if (underlings > 0) travelled, and your own underlings joined them. You take your share of their cut (all of it) after expenses. [b][Item Gained: 15 Shards][/b] *set shards + 15 *else travelled. Two of his underlings provide you with a bucket of shuriken. A bucket. "Do these normally come in buckets?" You ask looking into the wide, shoddily crafted and now substantially-scratched wooden bucket. One of his minions, the oni man named Yoji, hands you a pouch with a leg-strap. "Here, you fit three hundred shuriken into a pouch and then tell me we shouldn't have used a bucket." "None of the sass!" Guiren declares, walking over with a wide bundle of iron bars tied together. "$!{name}, finish your meal and we're getting to the real training. Your Cursed Chi has grown from a speck to a handful, so we're getting serious. You've practiced in the bamboo by pulling yourself to something else and practiced with the rocks by pulling something else around yourself. Now we need you to leash that Cursed Chi to your attacks." He drops the bundle of iron bars. "I'm going to stand behind these iron bars and leash my Cursed Chi to you. You're going to feel out that link and throw your shuriken at the bar. The goal is to hijack my Cursed Chi line and [i]pull[/i] the shuriken through the iron bar. If you do it right you'll not only increase the force of your attack, you'll add energy damage into the impact." One of the black-clad minions speaks up. "Guiren, your only cover is an iron bar? What if ${heshe} misses?" You expected the reptile Yokai to say something *if (heshe = "she") smooth like '$!{heshe} won't miss' but instead he rips a fuuinjutsu tag and extracts an iron shield from the smoke. Not a good vote of confidence. The entire day is spent throwing shuriken at the iron bars and it's a refreshing change of pace. Not only because you're finally not getting hurt, but because it [i]works[/i]. The purple line of Cursed Chi leading from your own body to behind Guiren's shield is more obvious in your perception now that your own Cursed Chi has grown and by the tenth throw you already cut deeper into the iron bars, infusing the shuriken with your own Cursed Chi and stealing Guiren's trajectory. By the fourth hour you and Guiren collect the shuriken back into the buckets for the fifth time and Guiren leaves to play card games with his men. He isn't needed anymore. By that point you've leashed your own cursed chi to the iron bars and used it to guide the shuriken with perfect precision and chi infusion, slicing the iron in half with such a small weapon. *set powspent + 1 [b][1 Power Core Spent][/b] *page_break "I'd say you're ready for the final test." Guiren says, waking you from your hammock tied between cypress trees in a swampy marsh after another day's march. *if (ruthless > 50) "Let me guess, I have to assassinate a target." *else "I don't have to assassinate someone, do I?" "Nothing so high paying." Guiren replies, holding up a jar of grey-green slime. "Ever seen this before?" *if (survival >= 1) [b][Survival 1 Check Passed][/b] *set forexp + 1 "Is that a jar of snails?" You ask after looking closer. *else [b][Survival 1 Check Failed][/b] "I don't even know what I'm looking at. Did an Alchemist make that?" "It's a jar of snails." Guiren says with confidence. "And this is a jar of scorpions." He lifts the other, larger jar and you flinch back. Inside is a collection of hundreds of scorpions, some openly eating each other. "We bought this from a fraud who said it would produce an incredibly potent poison worth a thousand Shards when they all finished eating each other, but we're not really here for a super poison. For your training we just need a whole lot of scorpions, it was the perfect purchase." You hate this already. "I don't suppose you need me to blow these scorpions up?" Your left hand glows ${auracolor} with wisps of Cursed Chi mixed in. "Not yet. Your training for today is spiritual stealth. We want you to use that cursed energy's entropy aspect to nullify the sense of your own aura. Animals can detect life like we sense auras, just very poorly. I'm going to cover you in snails that scorpions love to eat, then we're going to drop the scorpions on you. Your goal for the day is not doing anything. Simple as that. Sit still and keep your aura hidden and the scorpions should think they're standing on a rock instead of a living being. Fuck up and they'll sting you instead. You're done when the last scorpion leaves. Now disrobe." *if (heshe = "she") *choice #"Turn around. Your men too." "Turn around." You command. "Your men too." "Aw come on!" Shouts one of Guiren's masked minions. "Shut up Wencheng! If the lady doesn't want to entertain us then we won't be entertained." "Screw this." Says a different minion, picking up his chair and leaving. Where did he get a chair out in this marsh? "I apologize for them." Guiren says as more of his men turn around and leave. "Take the snail jar for yourself, but I'll have to dump the scorpions after." "That's fine." You say, removing your clothes and hanging them on a tree. You retrieve the snail jar and...hesitate, if you're honest with yourself, but it's just snails. If this is important for your training then it has to happen. #"Tell your men to turn around." *set guirenromance + 1 *set guirenrep + 2 "Tell your men to turn around." You command. "Oh? And what about me?" The left side of your mouth curls upward ever so slightly. "You may stay." "You heard the young mistress, boys! Eyes to the trees!" "Aw come on!" Shouts one of Guiren's masked minions. "Shut up Wencheng! You're giving insult to our honored guest!" "Screw this." Says a different minion, picking up his chair and leaving. Where did he get a chair out in this marsh? "I apologize for them." Guiren says as more of his men turn around and leave. "Shall I apply the sensual snail slime?" You remove your robe and expose your back to the Yokai man. "You may." *else All you have for undergarments today is a loincloth. "Are we going to sumo wrestle or something?" "No, but I'm not here to cover your [i]clothes[/i] in snails and scorpions. Come on, the training only works if they're on your skin." "Seriously? Don't you have a cute kunoichi to cover me instead?" Guiren sighs longingly. "I cannot tell you how badly I wish we did. There's far too many guys in this group." "Then quit!" Shouts Yoji the Oni from the safety of the bushes. "We'll replace you with a girl!" Guiren throws a scorpion at him then hands you the jar of snails. "Cover yourself, I'm going to go add dirt to Yoji's trail rations." You remove your ${clothes} and begin to slather yourself in the snail ooze. A sharp inhale escapes your lips from the cold slimy sensation as you're coated in the snails and their slime, dressed only in your undergarments. Not even a whole breath later over a hundred scorpions are rained down upon your body, clicking their carapace legs all over your skin to steady themselves and hunt the snails. The instant the last scorpion falls you hear Guiren leap away to safety. With the focus of a ${manwoman} possessed, you reject the sensations on your body and focus wholly on keeping your spirit as contained as possible. It's not until two hours later, with many scorpions resting on you still, that you realize that Guiren already knows how to do this. If it really does prevent any stings, he shouldn't have had to leap away. Your heart rate elevates and you get stung. Then again. And again. By the twelfth sting you stop responding and focus your aura back down, maintaining concentration on hiding your spiritual presence. You're here to train, not to stop the stings. If you want the pain and numbing alarm of the poison to stop then you must do it the right way, by suppressing your aura, or this is all a waste. Five more stings and three hours later the last scorpion crawls off your body. *if (ruthless >= 55) You leap in victory immediately and kill every single scorpion you can see while screaming in furious revenge. [b][Item Gained: Common Poison x3][/b] *set commonpoison + 3 *else You leap in victory as Guiren's men collect the scorpions to put their poison to good use. Afterwards they release the hundreds of well-fed scorpions on the unsuspecting swamp. [b][Item Gained: Common Poison x2][/b] *set commonpoison + 2 *set solspent + 1 [b][1 Soul Core Spent][/b] *page_break The next day you and Guiren reach the coast and the ocean is as beautiful as it is intimidating. Growing up in the mountains around Thunderfall Village meant you've never actually seen the ocean, only the large lakes of snowmelt that freeze early in the autumn due to your town's high elevation. To be down here, in the warm glow of the sun, where you see the vast and imposing view of the ocean continuing on farther than any sight of your life... It's majestic. "Is that Nanhou?" You ask, gazing upon the busy docks of a coastal town down the road. "Nah, just some logging town." Says Guiren. "Sit down here, there's a last step for your training and it's not a good one." "[i]None of them[/i] were good ones." You correct. "Oh hah hah, what you mean to say is 'thank you Guiren, for making me into a shinobi with Cursed Energy in just five days.'" *choice #"Thank you Guiren, for making me into a shinobi with Cursed Energy in just five days." *set guirenrep + 2 *set ruthless - 2 "Thank you Guiren, for making me into a shinobi with Cursed Energy in just five days." Guiren blinks. "Oh, uh, you're welcome." "Something wrong?" "I'm too used to my men who are, at the best of times," he turns around and looks back at his underlings, "ungrateful dregs." His underlings are five feet behind the two of you, and they heard everything. "Now come on," he says, "sit #Remain silent. You remain silent and Guiren's men snicker. He rolls his eyes. "Whatever. Now sit like I said, this last step is going to take a lot out of us. I was saving it until we reach the coast." "What for?" "We're going to merge auras for a moment, which sounds harmonious and peaceful. It ain't. It's going to sting like a bitch but that's what we need to trick your aura into generating only Cursed *if ((element1 != "None") or (element2 != "")) and Elemental chi from now on. You've already started the process of generating your own Cursed Chi, which is the only reason this will work. The problem is afterwards you'll be debilitated with fever and I'll be drained to nothing, that's why my men will get us on a ship and we'll recover the rest of the way to Nanhou. Problems solved." "If it's so dangerous then let's wait to do it on the ship." "The ship might explode." Oh. It's one of [i]those[/i] rituals. You and Guiren sit across from each other while he takes out some scroll and performs handseals following its instruction. Hopefully he knows what he's doing. You close your eyes and press every ounce of chi into your aura, flaring your power up and into the sky by a dozen feet. You've never wasted energy like this before and it feels like throwing money down a well. Suddenly a presence rips open in your spiritual senses, a dark and yawning void. Cursed Chi. Guiren's spirit. It rushes into and over you like a monstruous maw, consuming everything that you are. You try to fight it back but feel a spark from deep within your own Cores: your own entropy. Your own void. Your own maw. The sensation of being devoured is overcome as the Cursed yin chi all around you dwindles over the next ten minutes of struggle, replaced by a hungry void at the center of your own spirit that grows in potential, though not in size. Yet. When at last Guiren's foreign chi is gone you feel that your own aura has taken on a new meaning, a new form. Your chi reserves remain empty and your aura remains weak but it feels healthy. When your power returns it should be a full aura of Cursed Chi. Yet something more calls to you. Two of the Kurokonton effects that you haphazardly called upon during training solidify in your soul like new instincts, specifically from *set val 0 *set guirenrep + 5 *label kuronewtechs *if (val = 0) the... *else The second new power resonating through your soul comes from the... *choice *disable_reuse #Bamboo training. [Fortitude Surge Bonus + Stealth Increase] *gosub_scene quicks learntech 2120740000000000 "Crouching Tiger" "Passively increases Stealth by +1. Increases Fortitude Surge by +1 when focused." [b][Learning this Technique passively increases your Stealth by +1.][/b] *line_break [b][While focused to the Fortitude Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Fortitude Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Fortitude checks.][/b] *disable_reuse #Rock training. [Chi Pool Increase + Power Surge Bonus] *gosub_scene quicks learntech 1110000001000000 "Hidden Dragon" "Passively increases Chi Pool by +1. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused." [b][Learning this Technique passively increases your Chi Pool by +1.][/b] *line_break [b][While focused to the Power Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Power Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Power checks.][/b] *disable_reuse #Shuriken training. [Thievery Increase + Agility Surge Bonus] *gosub_scene quicks learntech 3130760000000000 "Wireworks" "Passively increases Thievery by +1. Increases Agility Surge by +1 when focused." [b][Learning this Technique passively increases your Thievery by +1.][/b] *line_break [b][While focused to the Agility Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Agility Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Agility checks.][/b] *disable_reuse #Scorpion training. [Soul Surge Bonus + Poison Recipe] *gosub_scene quicks learntech 4140000000200000 "Poisonmaster" "Passively reduces the cost of Alchemy by 1 Reagent. Increases Soul Surge by +1 when focused." *set poison1recipe (6 - alchemy) [b][Learning this Technique passively reduces the cost of Alchemy by 1 Reagent.][/b] *line_break [b][Learning this recipe teaches the Common Poison recipe.][/b] *line_break [b][While focused to the Soul Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Soul Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Soul checks.][/b] *if (val = 0) *set val + 1 *goto kuronewtechs The process feels invigorating at first but that surge of energy falls flat almost immediately, replaced with a heavy fatigue as your body heats up. You lean over to catch your breath but your arm braced against the ground completely gives up, collapsing you into the marsh island's grass. Guiren lies on the ground as well, his eyes nearly lifeless and drained. One of his men, clad in black clothing and facewrap, prods the reptilian Yokai with his foot. Guiren doesn't move. The underling looks to the others and motions to their boss. "The big guy's knocked out like a snuffed lantern. Should I scribe a dick on his forehead?" "Trace it." Replies Yoji. Their chorus of laughter is cut short by a scream as one of the men looks down to see an arrow piercing through his abdomen. Your body weighs too much to move and half the men don't even notice until energy blasts and arrows rain down upon them from the trees. Try as you may, you can't bring yourself to move your head when Guiren's men leap around you and engage some enemy in battle. The clash of steal, impact of limbs, and explosions of chi fill the air for mere moments before it all falls to silence. Moments later all you hear is the crunching of grass. A silver colored pantleg steps over you and snickers, lightly kicking your head with the other foot as the man passes by. A dozen more men and women follow and collect the defeated bodies of Guiren's men, hauling them over their shoulders. Each of the newcomers is dressed in silver and yellow combat gi. The uniform of the Sunbringers. "A good haul." Says one of the Sunbringer women. "Indeed, not just useful sacrifices *goto taioreveal *elseif (style = "Midorikatai") "Fourteen, no! [i]Seventeen[/i] buns please!" Calls an overly enthusiastic snacker ordering from a stall of baked goods. By the Ancestors, you recognize that voice. "Tian Fang?" The whitehaired wolfgirl turns her head so fast you'd think she was an owlgirl. "$!{name}! I have not seen you since *if ({metfang#2} = 1) my most embarrassing defeat! *if ({metfang#3} = 1) The one where you-" "Where I spit on you after." "Yes! The fight where you very rudely spit on me. How is the pride of the Thunderfall Sect here alone when the Thunderfall Sect itself passed through days ago?" That's news to you. "The whole Sect came through here? Were my siblings with them?" Fang's ears lower. "My most sincerest of apologies, my *if (fangrep >= 50) rival and friend, *else rival, but I do not know who your siblings are. Perhaps they were there? Yet you have avoided my questions all the same, why [i]are[/i] you separated from your pack, like a lost whitehaired wolfgirl?" "I-" You pause when recognition kicks in, "-you're separated from your Sect too?" She nods with eyes closed as if finding true contentment. "Most unfortunately! Mountain Hazard had already left before I returned home, and so I travel alone. A lone wolf. Hah! Like the angry heroes in the stories and-Hey! You have avoided answering again!" *if (ruthless >= 55) "Calm yourself, girl, you're making a scene." *else "Alright alright, quiet down." You quickly look around to make sure no one is listening in. "The Crushers and I are still not in good standing, and I mean that in the worst way. They took my siblings. I plan to get my brother and sister back, whatever it takes." "Oh my," Tian Fang pouts, "abduction of family members is grounds for a duel, yet dueling against a Sect Master is a death sentence...unless..." She grabs you by the collar with both hands. "${fullname}, do you intend to win the Heavenly Ascension Trials?!" Her sudden intensity throws you off-guard but the answer is an easy one. "Of course I do." "Good! Then meet me in the woods outside the walls. The great Tian Fang would like to form an alliance!" "An alli-??" She's already gone, surging an Agility Core and dashing away in an icy blue glow at top speeds, tail wagging behind her until she reaches the town gate and leaps over in one jump. You look to the caravanner who was selling the baked goods, which have now been launched in every direction from the wind force of Fang's burst of speed. Seventeen buns are noticeably missing from the wreckage. The poor baker's lost gaze meets your eyes. *if (heshe = "he") "Um...Young Master, *else "Um...Young Mistress, did you know that woman? Because someone has to pay for-" You're already gone. *page_break *goto fanginthewoods *elseif ({metfang#2} = 4) our encounter *goto scottydoesntknow *elseif ({metfang#2} = 2) our fight *label scottydoesntknow atop the lightning mountain!" Ah, one of your more embarrassing moments. Tian Fang actually blushes at the thought. "I trust you didn't tell anyone of my..." She looks to the left and right then whispers, covering her mouth on both sides. "My secret?" "I don't even know what the secret is, what happened back there? You seemed like an entirely different person. And an awful one at *if ({metfang#2} = 2) that. You stabbed me." *else that." "Haha! Such jokes, such a fun joking friend!" She shouts nervously, putting an arm around your shoulder and looking around to see if anyone is listening before loudly whispering in your ear. "Meet me in the woods outside the gate, we must talk with outmost secrecy about our alliance." Then she takes the buns off the caravanner's table and frolics off with the same aloof smile as usual. What a weird woman. *page_break *goto fanginthewoods *elseif ({metfang#2} = 3) that exhausting but enjoyable night together!" *if (heshe = "he") The Human girl working behind the baked goods counter lets out an "Oooooh" and pulls out a basket of pink heart-shaped pastries. "For the lovely couple?" *choice #"It's not like that, we cycled a Heavenly Gate together." *label itsnotlikethatfang "It's not like that," you say defensively, "we cycled a Heavenly Gate together." "Oh." The baker says, removing a basket of pink heart-shaped pastries and withdrawing a basket of maple fist-shaped pastries. "A special treat to celebrate a rivalry?" "I'll pass." "And I will not!" Fang shouts defiantly, slamming 3 silver on the table and taking a bite from the pastry in the girl's hand. Fascinating, and a waste of time. *label whyareyouevenhere You stretch and fake a yawn. "I'd love to stop and talk but I've got to stay on the road. The Heavenly Ascension Trials aren't going to wait." "Oh but they must!" Fang says through chews. "For I have not had time to discuss my alliance." Hm...this sounds like juicy intel. Who is Mountain Hazard working with if not Thunderfall? "Alright, I'll bite." Tian Fang rips the *if (val = 777) twice-bitten rose *else pastry from the baker girl's grasp and hides it behind her, away from you. "No! It is [i]I[/i] who will bite!" "...I meant, I'll hear more about your alliance." "Oh!" Fang says, returning to her usual aloof smile. "It is with you, of course." *page_break *goto fanginthewoods #"Of course, two please." *set fangrep + 2 *set fangromance + 1 *set val 777 "Of course, two please." You say, giving a smile to Fang. Fang responds with an outburst of joy. "Pink Pastries!! And you only want two?!" She slams six gold coins on the table. "We will take twenty!" The girl working the bakery stand hands the basket to you and rummages through some packages to find enough stock to fill the order. She then pulls out a rose and hands it to Fang. "For the lady, on behalf of the young master." She winks to you. Clever girl. Tian Fang takes a bite out of the rose, twists her face in disgust, and spits it on the ground. "Yuck! Plteh! Plteh!" She rubs her tongue clean with her fingers before getting close to your ear, whispering, "It is not very good. I no longer trust the pastries." She takes a second bite of the rose to be sure. Hm...Not the brightest bulb. It occurs to you that leaving might be better than staying. *goto whyareyouevenhere *else The girl working the pastry stand gives you a peculiar stare. *goto itsnotlikethatfang *else [b][ERROR! metfang variable ${metfang}][/b] *label fanginthewoods You find yourself following Tian Fang deep through the forest where the sun fears to shine. The trees here stretch higher than any building you've seen and their thick vines and leaves block out the light. You sense this area was rich with Darkness chi at one point, but whoever lives nearby must have sucked it dry for the Trials. Small shadows flicker just at the edge of your vision but it's just superstition and paranoia, or so you tell yourself. Tian Fang finally stops frolicking at top speed and turns to face you, leaning against a tree. "I am most pleased that you had the courage to follow! They say these woods are heavily, heavily, [i]heavily[/i] haunted." You dismiss the thought with a wave of the hand. "Wasn't an issue. Now what did you mean about an alliance?" Tian Fang smiles wide. "I wish to crush the Crusher Jack." *choice #"Why?" "Why?" It's not uncommon to hate Jack but he wasn't even home for the year Tian Fang spent in your town. What grudge could she have? "Prestige, of course! The Heavenly Ascension Trials are about skill, yes very much so, but they are about being [i]judged[/i] on our skill. That means presentation is key! I wish to 'team-up', as they say, and together we can defeat the most famous contestant at the Trials: Crusher Jack." "Jack's the most likely to pass? In the entire region? He can't be that strong, I beat *if (beatjack1 = 1) him already. Twice." *else him." *label beatjacktwice "You beat the man he was, I am not filled with joy competing against the man he is now. Fame follows his footsteps; they say he's already invented his own Techniques and crushed Upper Disciples to prove himself on the road. I saw him in this very town, and I believe the rumors. The quite-large man smelled of blood when his Sect marched through. The blood of many. However..." A tingle in your shoulders tells you that she's scanning your spirit. "If we work together I know something we can do to tip the odds in our favor, if you'd be willing to ally with the star pupil of Mountain Hazard, the great...tian Fang!" She poses, arms up, as if this was her ultimate sales pitch. #"And what does that have to do with me?" "And what does that have to do with me?" It's not uncommon to hate Jack. It's just uncommon for someone to drag you into a haunted forest to talk about it. "You defeated Jack in combat! I must learn how you overcame the fear, and in exchange I can teach you how to overcome your spiritual shortcomings. If we defeat the heir of your Sect that so many believe to be unstoppable, well I am sure the brilliant ${fullname} knows where I am going with this caravan of thought." You actually do. If you can defeat the most famous combatant at the Trials then you'd take their place in the minds of the masses. But when did Jack become a famous combatant? "Where do I come into this? You're both 'star pupils', you can fight him yourself." Tian Fang kicks at some roots, eyes cast downward. "I saw him already, in this very town, when your Thunderfalling Sect passed through. His Aura Pressure was well-contained so I could not detect it, but I'm embarrassed to say my mother's side shone through and my survival instincts would not let me even speak to him alone. He seemed arrogant from afar, angry even. Always so angry. I do not think he would have been a graceful winner." Hearing someone put Jack on a pedestal irritates you on a level you don't want to think about. *if (ruthless < 50) You didn't even know you were still holding such a grudge. "You wouldn't even fight him but you felt comfortable fighting me? I beat *if (beatjack1 = 1) Jack. Twice." *else Jack." *goto beatjacktwice #"Damn, wolfgirl, that's all you had to say!" *set fangrep + 2 Tian Fang leaps for *if ((heshe = "he") and (fangromance >= 1)) joy and wraps her arms around your shoulders. *set fangrep + 2 *else joy. "Oh happy day! An alliance of Tian Fang's own! Together we will crush the Heavenly Ascension Trials' most famous combatant and secure our victory!" *if ((heshe = "he") and (fangromance >= 1)) You push her off and hold her steady by the arms, *else You shut her cheering down by grabbing her along both arms, looking into her eyes. "What did you just say? Famous combatant?" "Did you not know?" She asks in doubt, "Crusher Jack has completed many missions this year across Outer West, he is something of a celebrity now and believed to be among the strongest contestants at the Trials." That...can't be right. He's strong, sure, but the strongest in Outer West? "No they have to be wrong, Jack's manageable. I beat him by *if (beatjack1 = 1) myself. Twice." *else myself." *goto beatjacktwice *page_break "I'm in." "Come, come then!" Tian Fang shouts, grabbing your sleeve and dragging you further into the forest. "We must get to the most important of training, there is very little time in which to be doing it." "Hold on, what training?" Tian Fang inches her head towards yours, eyebrows twisted as if concerned for your health. "The Midorikatai training? Did you hit your head most painfully? Your aura holds fractions of Wild Chi like the rest of the Thunderfallers, but Crusher Mao never taught you to use it, this is true? I suspect he keeps its secrets from his pup's rival. If we wish to fix your aura's flaw in time we must act now!" You look around the darkness of the forest. This place is better suited for Darkness Shugendō than any martial art training. "Where are we going to find Midorikatai Path Manuals out here?" Tian Fang's icy blue aura rises around her body like a mist, illuminating the forest floor. "First ask yourself the vital question: why would a Sect hire a beautiful outsider like Tian Fang to train their disciples? Would it not be better to employ a local Sect member since they would know the Sect's Style? The answer is of most simplicity." Her warm smile shifts to a flashy grin more suited to a foxgirl than a wolfgirl. Suddenly her calm misty blue aura explodes with raging green energy that launches forest floor debris around her in a circle. When you look back up from shielding your eyes the woman before you glows with the same light as Crusher Mao's aura. She looks taller. Stronger. More importantly her fangs are back, yet you examine the woman closer and see understanding and restraint in her eyes. She hasn't gone feral like before. "Is that-?" "Yes!" Barks Tian Fang in pride, "It is the Wild Chi that flows through both our souls! I, Tian Fang, had already known Midorikatai!" *page_break *label fangtraining "This is impossible." You say, staring at Tian Fang manifesting an entirely different aura as the two of you run through the woods without a trail. "If you had this power the whole time, why didn't you use it *if (({metfang#2} = 1) or ({metfang#2} = 2)) when we fought?" *else on the mountaintop?" "I do not even remember *if ({metfang#2} = 1) the fight, *elseif (({metfang#2} = 2) or ({metfang#2} = 4)) *if ({metfang#2} = 2) the fight. *else that night. I was suffering from an allergic reaction to the Heavenly Gate." "An allergic reaction??" Fang nods as she sprints with an almost smug aura. "Most indeed! It is a rare Yokai condition, Heavenly Gates cause a stirring in my soul that makes me rather irritable, rude, and possessed by the nature of Beasts. You have my sincerest of apologies. *else that night. Truth be told it is likely my feral self simply could not or would not change chi sources. I am most comfortable with ice chi more often than not. How else would I stay cool in my huggable furs?" You have no words. Tian Fang forms a fist and shakes it once, whispering 'victory' to herself before looking back to you. "How much do you know about the Midorikatai Style?" "I know it's strong and has something to do with Beasts." "In many ways certainly, that defines it perfectly to onlookers. In fact, many Midorikatai Masters simply use the Style to become physical powerhouses and ignore the Beast aspects entirely, like your Sect. At its practical core Midorikatai is simply about strength; the Style uses our inner energies in the same way a Beast would use them to grow in physical size and might. Such Wild Chi is why Tian Fang is so ferocious!" She turns around and playfully claws at the air in front of you. "But there is much more to know! When we repurpose all our natural chi into Wild Chi we gain insight into not one but three uses: strength, taming, and leadership." "Leadership?" "Oh yes, it is the aspect Tian Fang is the least skilled in! Hmhmhm!" She places both hands on her hips and puffs out her chest as if that were some accomplishment. "We will not be learning that today. Instead the easiest use of Midorikatai's Wild Chi, weaving our energy directly into our bodies to gain strength and toughness. Some gain size when powering up, some gain it permanently. This process is like weaving a hundred layers of spiritual cloth into every muscle." You've actually tried that before. It hurt. "That sounds like an easy way to pull a muscle." "So many." Fang replies wistfully. "But! It must be mastered to gain the ridiculous strength for which our Style is most famous. As for the Taming aspect, hmm...there was something my Master said...Oh! That is right!" She stops and grabs you by both shoulders. "We are [i]not[/i] Beasts." "I know." You say all too easily. "We [i]are not[/i] Beasts." Tian Fang reiterates. "Fang, I know." "Good! Always keep that in mind when taming. Forging the Beast within is a dangerous process, many valuable students lose themselves." You've never heard of that, and you're from a Sect of Midorikatai users. "No one's ever gone wild from my Sect." "Your Magistrate forbid me from taming, I suspect Thunderfall does not teach the practice." Tian Fang ponders for a moment. "Even if it were not discouraged or banned, anyone losing themselves around a powerful Midorikatai aura like Crusher Mao would likely be cowed, as a Beast would. And if not cowed then killed. And yet!" She holds one finger to the sky as if demanding to keep the mood cheery, "the aspect of taming is still most useful. You see, by developing your Wild Chi with a specific animal type over time you can gain kinship with Beasts of that type. I have of course chosen *if (roc >= 1) Wolf, while you have of course chosen bird." "Caw!" Says ${rocname} from the branches overhead. You didn't even know she was following you anymore. "I haven't chosen anything." You reply, reaching into your bag for some jerked meat and throwing it airborne for ${rocname} to catch. "My roc and I are battle partners, it's not because of Styles and chi. I just raised her from an egg." Tian Fang steps close to you and takes a half dozen sniffs around your face and neck. "Ah...Hm...It seems you are correct. You will be able to choose your own Beast affinity afterall when the time comes, [i]and[/i] keep your giant bird. Tian Fang is not jealous." Her eyes turn upward toward ${rocname} and narrow. "Not one bit." *set fangrep - 2 You snap your fingers near her face to get her attention. "Fang, the last use. Leadership. Focus." *elseif (subrace = "Cat") Wolf while you have of course chosen Cat." "What? No I haven't." Fang's head tilts to the side. "But you are of the filthy Cats, are you not?" *set fangrep - 2 Hold on a second. "Did you just say filthy?" "Er..." She looks to the side and covers her cheek bashfully. "Nooo, no of course not! Tian Fang's wolf heart is pure and holds no grudges against other species, even if they are as untrustworthy and inherently villainous as the cats." Your tail twitches irritably as you close your eyes and hold back a sigh. "Look, can we just move on to the last use? You said it was Leadership, right?" "Of course!" *else Wolf." Your own pet Beasts? That sounds incredible, like the dragon-riders of legend. "And the last use? Leadership?" Fang smiles. "Hungry for even most than simply strength and ferocious pets? Most good! You will need such hunger. As Midorikatai Martial Artists we do not only weave our chi into our own bodies. When a Midorikatai practitioner has mastered the art of weaving their Wild Chi through their muscles, they can also learn to weave it into others as well. That is our leadership." Holy. Shit. "Are you saying I can control people with my muscles?!" "What? No." Tian Fang blinks several times. "I say the soldiers serving under Midorikatai commanders are superior to those serving any other. They are empowered, not enslaved. Why are you being silly? Do not be so silly. $!{name}, your chi will be inside their very body where their will is strongest. If it were a hostile Technique they could resist it more easily than any other. Must we read over the beginner scrolls on the applications of chi?" You probably should. "No need. When do we start?" "Now." Fang holds her hands together and closes her eyes, placing her thumb tips and index finger tips together as her bottom three fingers on each hand connect knuckle-to-knuckle. The green glow around her intensifies and her muscles expand ever so slightly as if she were flexing every muscle at once. Her now-amber eyes open. "For such rushed training we will have you live like an animal until you can do at least this much." "How do I live like an animal?" Fang's ears twitch twice. "That part is most simple! Predators are most in-tuned with their instincts when fighting for survival, especially if shoved into a pit with other predators, so I had this pit dug out and threw predators inside." "You what?" "This one offers her apologies!" Fang shouts in ceremony while shoving you backwards, hard, and you realize you're falling into a pit. *page_break Landing on your back with a loud 'thud' isn't the most graceful start to a training exercise. "Please be nice to them!" Tian Fang shouts from the top of the twenty-foot pit. "They are most hungry!" "Who are...are..." You look around the darkness of the pit and can barely make out multiple sets of eyes, gleaming with a reflection of the low light coming through the trees. Wolves. Over a dozen of them. Fang's green glowing chi seeps down into the pit and covers the wolves, giving them each a soft Wild Chi glow. "Your training is to survive down there until dusk without harming them!" *if (honor < 48) "Without har-TELL THEM NOT TO HARM ME!" "No!" *else You stare at the unpowered collection of beasts, fourteen adult wolves if you're counting right, and nod. "Got it." "Good!" Replies Tian Fang before disappearing from the ledge. "I will be back tonight! Remember, no cheating! You are here to cultivate Wild Chi!" As soon as her presence leaves your spiritual senses confirm your suspicions that she was using a Taming Technique on the wolves, because they attack. You grab the first by the jaws and hold it back as another bites into your leg, teeth rejected by your toughened skin but only barely. You kick it off and leap backwards onto the wall, jumping over the collection of wolves and pushing a leaping canine back down before hitting the opposite side. The second you land the pack paces horizontally and three more charge you. In a normal fight you'd smack their heads together, but you're forced to weave and dodge, tumbling out of the way and catching their attacks only to push them back. It's going to be a long day. *set forspent + 1 [b][1 Fortitude Core Spent][/b] When Tian Fang returns your clothes are torn, your shallow bleeding wounds have worked the wolves into a frenzy, and your twelve hours of struggle have left the wolves regretting that frenzy as you've all been pushed to exhaustion. A soft ceasefire has occurred in the pit as all you and the wolves all lay motionless, reserving your energy and starving. The wolfgirl's ears poke out over the ledge and she smiles. "Wonderful! Most wonderful work! It looks like you have grown another inch!" "Hmph." Is all you let out, too fatigued to even think. "And I brought food." Every creature in the pit jumps to their feet in excitement, you included. *page_break You and Fang sit at the top of the wolfpit enjoy bone-in roasted venison while the wolves down in the pit gorge on three separate deer carcasses. *if (honor < 46) "Sucks to be the deer." *else "It makes one glad to not be a deer." You say between ravenous bites. "Did you kill all three and drag them here?" "Mhm." Fang nods and swallows. "Such is the fate of prey animals. They exist to be eaten alive or scavenged while dead. Such is the way of life in the wilds, and the cities are not so different. Butchers make the process cleaner but it is all the same result to the deer. Are you ready for the next step of the training?" "What's the next-" She rips fuuinjutsu tags over the pit and dirt explodes over your face. When the dirt cloud dissipates you see massive logs at the pit's bottom and a coating of dirt covering each confused wolf. Some of the logs are wider than your body. "You lift!" Fang boasts. "Midorikatai is about strength, there is no way around it. Most Midorikatai wielders have nothing to do with animals, like Crusher Mao. It is a Style of pure physical force, the fact that we achieve it the same way as Beasts is coincidence to them." "What about you?" "I am a *if (race = "Yokai") Yokai, like you." *else Yokai." She says as if it explains everything. "Now I wish for you to not only lift each log overhead, but to drop them every few minutes so the wolves feel the tremors. They must recognize you as their alpha and [i]you[/i] must learn to feel the resonance of Wild Chi throughout your body. A well-worked muscle is more receptive to spiritual infusion than a muscle at rest." "Wouldn't this bind me to wolves? What if I want to tame a different beast?" Fang glows green again and performs a few handseals in quick succession. "Do not worry, that is why I coat them in my own taming Technique. It gives them a source of Wild Chi for you to mimic and keeps your spirit from bonding to them. Now get down there and impress with your muscles!" *if (heshe = "he") *choice #Leap down and lift. *label justliftlogs You drop down into the pit and the wolves make way for you, cautious after your fight and content after their meal. Each log is heavier than the last but you try no tricks to complete your goal; you're not here to write a task off a checklist. You're here to sweat. You're here to [i]lift[/i]. Hours into the exercise the soft green glow that Fang cast around the wolves resonates more cleanly in your spiritual senses as your own Wild Chi reserves begin to grow. *if (subrace = "Wolf") [b][Race Event: Wolf Yokai][/b] And boy, [i]what a glow[/i]. The power mixing into your spirit from these wolves feels like a calling you've ignored all your life. *set apval 5 *gosub_scene quicks apboost *goto continuewithfang #Take your shirt off, leap down, and lift. *set fangromance + 1 *set fangrep + 3 You take off your shirt to reveal your sweat-soaked abs and leap back down into the dark wolfpit. Tian Fang doesn't say a word, but she doesn't leave either. She only watches contently from her seat at the pit's ledge as you get to work lifting the heavy logs surrounded by confused and cautious wolves. Their soft green glow from Fang's power resonates more clearly in your spiritual senses hours into the heavy lifting as your own aura soaks in Wild Chi. Every now and then dirt trickles down the side of the pit from Fang's tail gently wagging. *else *goto justliftlogs *label continuewithfang [b][1 Power Core Spent][/b] *set powspent + 1 *page_break You, Fang, and the wolfpack run southwest through the forests until the following night when you reach the edge of the woods and the lands become more populated, roads dotted with houses and small patches of woodlands. "I cannot believe you forgot about the Trials!" You shout at Fang. "Tian Fang did not forget!" She barks back, "She simply did not remember that there was still so much distance to travel as well! We will sleep here for the night and continue a forced run in the morning." She snaps her fingers and the wolves assemble into a pile that serves as a surprisingly warm blanket and pillow for the next seven hours. Your rest is interrupted when the ground explodes without warning. One wolf from the center of the pack is sent flying 30 feet into the air. Fang leaps to catch the animal while you look around immediately for the Earth Path martial artist that must have attacked. A scream of danger from behind causes you to abandon that search and leap forward. The earth explodes where you were just standing too. You turn around as Tian Fang lands and regroups with you, looking upon the source of the explosions from [i]inside[/i] the explosions. It was never an Earth-style attack. It was a surface breach. A massive centipede as thick as a human extends from the ground, thirty feet of its body exposed and writhing around as if searching for pieces of its targeted prey: your wolf pack. "What the hell is that thing?" You ask. "Your training!" Fang replies excitedly, glowing icy blue and adopting a battle stance. "Centipede or wolf, Wild Chi is Wild Chi. Kill it and eat its heart." The two of you dodge the creature's acid spit *if (roc >= 1) and ${rocname} descends from the trees. The three of you *else and engage the hundred-armed Beast in a fight that lasts over two hundred traded blows. For every four strikes you deflect another five come from the other direction as if it controlled all its limbs independently. *set agispent + 1 [b][1 Agility Core Spent][/b] *set roccombat + 1 *page_break "Please don't make me do this." You say, looking at the gigantic bug's lengthy organ Fang has ripped out of its chest after three minutes of meticulously and viscerally ripping through its underbelly carapace. "Eat it." Fang says, hands covered in off-colored blood. "It is a delicacy!" "Can't we find a mammal? Or a bird? A fish even." "This is a most blessed of blessings! The odds of finding a wild Beast this close to Nanhou during the Trials are so low that...that..." She drifts off while looking behind you. You turn to see a Sect in green and grey gi searching around a distant hill, some glowing with green auras of Wild Chi. Among them are two other giant centipedes. "Oops..." You shove the Beast heart into your mouth in as few bites as possible and the two of you sprint away before they find the body. [b][Aura Pressure +10][/b] *set aurapressure + 10 *page_break Wild Chi courses through your veins from the Beast's heart as the two of you run for another hour. The Beast meat you've eaten in the past never pushed you towards generating more Wild Chi but according to Tian Fang your aura has already begun the process of generating the green energy on its own. Motes of Wild Chi flash through your ${auracolor} aura as you run, until you dismiss it at a new sight when the two of you crest a hill. The ocean. Such a body of water at an unimaginable scale is as beautiful as it is intimidating. Growing up in the mountains around Thunderfall Village meant you've never actually seen the ocean, only the large lakes of snowmelt that freeze early in the autumn due to your town's high elevation. To be down here, in the warm glow of the sun, where you see the vast and imposing view of the ocean continuing on farther than any sight of your life... It's majestic. "We lost the wolves." Fang says, looking around after catching her breath. "Your next training is to call them." "Like a howl?" "No, it is most difficult to summon them as if you were a wolf Beast when, in truth, you are not a wolf *if ((subrace = "Wolf") and (race = "Kitsune")) Beast, even if you and I look close. Instead, thanks *else Beast. Thanks to the Wild Chi you've begun to cultivate you are more like *if (race = "Oni") an Oni *elseif (race = "Kitsune") a Yokai *else a ${race} Beast. How would *if (race = "Oni") an Oni *elseif (race = "Kitsune") a Yokai *else a ${race} Beast summon its pack?" She can't really mean... "Speech?" You ask. "Wolves can't understand our speech." "They cannot! Nor can you understand wolf speech. Yet the feeling they portray through their howls is evident in your ears. You know a sad howl, you know an angered snarl. The wolves will know the same, but only if your Wild Chi carries the Leadership command on the winds." She places a hand on your shoulder and looks into your eyes sternly. "Call to them. Not with their howl, they are the underlings. Call to them with the howl of their commander." This is crazy, you think to yourself, but all the same you march up to the hilltop and channel your green motes of energy, cycling them through your spirit until enough Wild Chi gathers for one purpose. Then you force that chi to your lungs and let out a roar. *if (honor < 45) [b][Honor Check Failed][/b] *set fangrep - 1 "HEY, DICKWOLVES! GET THE [b]FUCK[/b] OVER HERE!" *else "LAZY DESERTERS! RETURN TO ME [b]NOW[/b]!" Half a dozen howls respond throughout the countryside, followed by more in response to theirs. One by one the pack returns. [b][1 Soul Core Spent][/b] *set solspent + 1 *page_break Upon marching south you and Fang come within view of a coastal town with docks filled to the brim with naval vessels. She smiles at the sight and turns to you. "We're here! Now there is only one last step to unlock your Midorikatai Style Advancement. It is the least pleasant part of your training but without it you are simply not progressing fast enough for us to defeat Jack." She closes her eyes, crosses her arms, and nods in agreement with her own statements. "What is it?" "The process of generating Wild Chi has already begun in your soul, and we can hurry it along. We must hurry it along. To do so you will have to empty your spirit of all chi and I will have to empty mine into yours." "As in, giving me your aura?" From years of study you are positive it is impossible to simply give your aura to someone else. "How in the world would that work?" Fang sighs. "It would not. You would gain nothing but a fever from it, and I will be debilitated until my chi fully returns. The only benefit will be that your spirit, once it is emptied and surrounded by Wild Chi, will be 'tricked' into generating Wild Chi completely in place of the untyped white-grey chi of the uninitiated. Essentially, this is a ritual no one should do. A year's worth of training will replace it without risk. Yet most unfortunately..." "We don't have a year." "We do not have a year! Please have a seat, it is time we both get [i]exceedingly[/i] ill, after which we will board passage on a boat from one of the ships down below." You look to the wolf pack she just had you summon. "Will a ship take your wolves with you?" Fang opens a knapsack and reveals an eye-opening number of Shards. "Do not worry, friend! I have learned most humans are susceptible to bribery." You and Fang sit across from each other while she glows green and performs an unfamiliar handseal formation. You close your eyes and press every ounce of chi into your aura, flaring your ${auracolor} power up and into the sky by a dozen feet. You've never wasted energy like this before and it feels like throwing money down a well. Suddenly a presence rips open in your spiritual senses, a hungry stalking predator. Wild Chi. Tian Fang's spirit. It rushes into and over you like a Beast at your neck, grasping hold of your spirit's lifeline. You try to fight it back but feel a spark from deep within your own Cores: your own hunger. Your own predator. Your own Beast. The sensation of being subdued is overcome as the Wild Beast Chi all around you dwindles over the next ten minutes of struggle, replaced by an instinctual hunter at the center of your own spirit that grows in potential, though not in size. Yet. When at last Fang's foreign chi is gone you feel that your own aura has taken on a new meaning, a new form. Your chi reserves remain empty and your aura remains weak but it feels healthy. When your power returns it should be a full aura of Wild Chi. Yet something more calls to you. Two of the Midorikatai effects that you haphazardly called upon during training solidify in your soul like new instincts, specifically from *set val 0 *set fangrep + 5 *label midonewtechs *if (val = 0) the... *else The second new power resonating through your soul comes from the... *choice *disable_reuse #Centipede Fight. [Survival Increase + Agility Surge Bonus] *gosub_scene quicks learntech 3130750000000000 "Bloodhunt" "Passively increases Survival by +1. Increases Agility Surge by +1 when focused." [b][Learning this Technique passively increases your Survival by +1.][/b] *line_break [b][While focused to the Agility Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Agility Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Agility checks.][/b] *disable_reuse #Pit Fighting. [Health Increase + Fortitude Surge Bonus] *gosub_scene quicks learntech 2120000002000000 "Chi-Hardened Skin" "Passively increases Health Pool by +1. Increases Fortitude Surge by +1 when focused." [b][Learning this Technique passively increases your Survival by +1.][/b] *line_break [b][While focused to the Fortitude Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Fortitude Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Fortitude checks.][/b] *disable_reuse #Heavy Lifting. [Aura Pressure Increase per Combat Victory + Power Surge Bonus] *gosub_scene quicks learntech 1110002000000000 "Energy Gorge" "Passively increases AP gained from defeating enemies by +2. Increases Power Surge by +1 when focused." [b][Learning this Technique passively grants extra +2 Aura Pressure whenever its wielder defeats an enemy.][/b] *line_break [b][While focused to the Power Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Power Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Power checks.][/b] *if (background = "Trapper") *disable_reuse #Wolf Summoning. [Persuasion Increase + Soul Surge Bonus + ${rocname}'s Power Increases] *label commandingpresence *gosub_scene quicks learntech 4140730000000000 "Commanding Presence" "Passively increases Persuasion by +1. Increases Soul Surge by +1 when focused." [b][Learning this Technique passively increases your Persuasion by +1.][/b] *line_break [b][While focused to the Soul Core, this Technique lets you spend +1 Soul Core at a time to succeed at higher difficulty Soul checks.][/b] *if (roc >= 1) [b][Background Event: Trapper][/b] *line_break [b][$!{rocname}'s power has increased!][/b] *set roccombat + 1 *if (soul >= 4) *set roccombat + 1 *else *disable_reuse #Wolf Summoning. [Persuasion Increase + Soul Surge Bonus] *goto commandingpresence *if (val = 0) *set val + 1 *goto midonewtechs The process feels invigorating at first but that surge of energy falls flat almost immediately, replaced with a heavy fatigue as your body heats up. You lean over to catch your breath but your arm braced against the ground completely gives up, collapsing you onto the hilltop's lush grass. Fang lies on the ground as well, her eyes listless and drained as the wolves whine next to her, one licking her cheek. Your worries dwindle seconds later when her chest rises and falls with steady breathing. The wolf pack suddenly bursts into a yipping and snarling mess as a bright energy blast strikes one of them. Your body weighs too much to move and all you see is more energy blasts and arrows raining down upon the wolves from behind you. Try as you may, you can't bring yourself to move your head when the wolves leap over your form and engage some enemy. The sound of heavy impacts and explosive chi lasts mere moments before it all falls to silence. Victorious wolves are never silent. Moments later all you hear is the crunching of grass. A silver colored pantleg steps over you and snickers, lightly kicking your head with the other foot as the man passes by. A dozen more men and women follow and collect the defeated wolves, hauling them over their shoulders. Each of the newcomers is dressed in silver and yellow combat gi. The uniform of the Sunbringers. "A good haul." Says one of the Sunbringer women. "Indeed, not just useful sacrifices *goto taioreveal *label leonadeathcheck *if (((health + (fortitude / 2)) - wounds) < 1) *goto leonawakeup *return *label guirendeathcheck *if (((health + (fortitude / 2)) - wounds) < 1) *goto guirenwakeup *else *return *label leonawakeup Comforting warmth and the low roar of campfire wakes your aching body some unknown amount of time later. Vague memories of a dream flash through your mind, a fight against some *if (leonaromance >= 1) beautiful unhinged woman obsessed with swords. *set wounds - 2 [b][2 Health Restored][/b] "Good, you're awake." Leona says impatiently. Aw shit, it wasn't a dream. "Why?" You ask through pained breaths, gazing over to the armored woman squatting by the fireplace looking through a satchel. "Why what?" Leona asks back, feigning innocence while taking a waterskin out from her supplies and guzzling greedily. *goto Next_whyleona *label guirenwakeup *page_break Defeat *set wounds - 1 *if (wounds <= 0) *set wounds 1 The afterlife isn't like what you imagined, and in fact looks more like a shabby tavern room. Your shabby tavern room. "Is ${heshe} awake?" Asks one darkly dressed man with a black facewrap. "I think so." Says another, slapping you gently. Reflexively your fist strikes him in the groin. The man crumples to the ground without a sound. "Yeah, ${heshe}'s awake." Says *if (purpleside) a more familiar voice. Guiren *else another voice from behind the others. *if (portraitpics) *image https://www.auraclash.com/assets/img/guiren.jpg A lizard Yokai with green reptilian eyes steps over his fallen comrade and analyzes your wounded body, covered in bandages and unguents. *if (purpleside) "Wakey wakey you piece of shit, you *else "Morning stranger, the name's Guiren and I run this little crew. You feeling good enough for training?" Your bleary eyes take the room into focus, you [i]are[/i] back in your room at the inn, surrounded by *if (purpleside) Guiren and his men. *else some stealthily dressed Sect or gang. It seems they patched you up. "Did you see the guys who tried to kill me?" "Yeah," says an unmasked Oni man in the back, "in the mirror. An anonymous messenger delivered a hit on your head, paying with spirit fruit when everyone wants it most." "No don't!" Shouts Guiren as you activate your aura to defend yourself. Several wounds immediately reopen and you seize up as your own blood soaks through your bandages. Guiren shakes his head and looks to the others. "This is why I said we need a legitimate medic, Wencheng. One power-up and ${hisher} wounds are bleeding. Shoddy job." One of the dark-clad men in facewrap gets defensive. "Like I told you they would! If you want quality healing then pay for some quality scrolls on healing." Guiren smacks the man with no power behind his swing, a disciplinary slap. "No talking back." The man then snaps and grabs Guiren, trying to wrestle him to the ground, until Guiren puts him in a headlock. Four other black-clad minions step back to give them room. "Cut it out damn it!" Guiren shouts. "Not in front of the client!" "Then don't freaking hit me!!" "Because you don't talk back to the leader! I'll hit you again if I want to!" You look from the lizard Yokai to some of his mock-shinobi in confusion and clear your throat. "Is anyone going to fill me in? Why did you patch me up after trying to kill me?" The two of them pause. Guiren pushes his mook away and smooths out his clothes. *if ({metguiren#3} = 1) "Divine intervention. If I had my way you'd be a bloody puddle by now, but while *elseif (heshe = "she") "My sincere apologies, it's not like me to keep a lady waiting. While *else "Right, right. While we were stabbing you on the ground, mission accomplished if you ask me, we found your invitation to the Heavenly Ascension Trials. I had no idea you were under 25, the contract promised you weren't." "So?" You've never heard of an assassin with honor. Being ${age} doesn't exactly make you a kid, and half his men look or sound like they're your age too. Hells, he might be your age. "So you're [b]in[/b] the Trials. Killing an aspirant in the Heavenly Ascension Trials is punishable by death. And not just any death, you get hunted down like a dog by the Inner Sects." *if ({metguiren#3} = 1) Your face grows unnaturally pale. "Relax," Guiren says, "you're safe you piece of shit. Kennui was too old for the Trials by three years." The lizard Yokai's eyes flicker to a window. "Wencheng, go setup some training dummies." "Why?" Asks another one of the black-clad minions. Guiren turns and fumes. "Holy fucking shit Wencheng, because [b]I said so![/b] Sheesh!" The underling glares and leaves, stomping loudly down the hallway, and Guiren turns back to you. "Listen, I don't like you and I'm sure you don't like me, but we're going to need to work together on a job." Seated, wounded, and heavily medicated as you are...you've heard worse propositions. "What kind of job?" *label guirenspitch "Whoever hired us to kill you was trying to get us killed too. I can't have that going unpunished, gotta set an example. So I have a one-time reason to trust you on a gig: we're going to track down and assassinate whoever tried to kill us all. There's just one problem...why hasn't your Sect Master trained you to use your natural affinity for Cursed Chi? I need my team able to keep up with me on missions." "Me and the Crusher family have bad history." "Good." Guiren smiles at that, a sleazy and crude smile. "If it's public knowledge that you're untrained then no one will expect it when we teach you to use Kurokonton before the Trials." A derisive laugh escapes your lips. "You're going to teach me an entire martial arts style in a week? Are you joking?" *goto thatwouldbeajoke *label baddream [i]That night you find yourself standing in the middle of an ocean of crimson, the punguent scent of iron invading your nostrils. Your hands are stained with the same viscous liquid clinging to your skin. Around you there are people, their bodies drained and lifeless, their faces frozen in silent scream. They are all familiar, all faces you remember saving throughout your journey, yet now they lay lifeless by your hands.[/i] [i]Suddenly you feel a sharp pain in your chest, as if your heart is being squeezed by an iron grip. You look down and see your own hand embedded in your chest, clutching your heart. As you pull your hand free, instead of a heart, you're holding onto a cracked slab of stone. A gravestone.[/i] [i]Your gravestone.[/i] And then you awake. *return *label drink_memorywell *set memdrank true You find a stable environment to drink the potion in the form of a clearing by a small stream in town, adorned only with flowers and a vine-covered pergola. A doting couple flees the scene as soon as you approach, no doubt forbidden lovers in some drama you're thankfully not involved in. Without any further interruptions you sit in a meditative position. The cloudy elixir in your hand thrums with power at your touch, as if sensing the elemental chi flowing through your spirit and veins... *choice #Drink it now. *gosub_scene quicks memorywell *goto shopintown #Save it for later. *set memorywell + 1 [b][Item Added to Inventory: Memorywell Elixir][/b] *goto shopintown